Emma Thompson is set to star in Robert Carlyle’s directorial debut “The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson” alongside Ray Winstone, Carlyle and his “Trainspotting” co-star Ewan Bremner,” it was announced Friday, Jan 31 by Myriad Pictures, TheWrap said.

Myriad is handling worldwide sales, excluding Canada and the UK, for the darkly humorous thriller. Myriad will introduce the film to international buyers at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.

Richard Cowan and Colin McLearen wrote the script, which is based on a widely popular series of novels by Douglas Lindsay.

Carlyle stars as the title character, a downtrodden Scottish barber who inadvertently stumbles into serial murder. Complicating matters, Barney’s formidable mother (Thompson) emasculates him at every turn. While Barney covers his tracks, a detective (Winstone) fights his own battles within his inept homicide department.

“The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson” is being produced by Vancouve- based John G. Lenic and Kaleena Kiff through their Trinity Works Entertainment banner.

The film, which is a Canada and UK co-production, is scheduled to go into production in the first half of 2014.

“I can’t wait to see this delightful cast bring peals of laughter to audiences around the world. We are so pleased to be working with this extremely versatile and talented actor — now turned director — Robert Carlyle, and his top notch producing team,” said Myriad president/CEO Kirk D’Amico, who will executive produce.