Release date announced for Trainspotting 2

DANNY Boyle's Trainspotting sequel will be titled T2 and is set to be released on January 27 next year.
Film star Johnny Lee Miller during filming in Leith. Picture: Ian GeorgesonFilm star Johnny Lee Miller during filming in Leith. Picture: Ian Georgeson
Film star Johnny Lee Miller during filming in Leith. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle are all set to reprise the roles they first played two decades ago.

Boyle also directed the 1996 hit movie, which followed a group of heroin addicts in Edinburgh in the late 1980s.

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A 45-second clip using footage from the original film was shared by Film4’s Twitter account to mark what it said was T2’s first day of shooting yesterday.

Danny Boyle's film crew at the Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian GeorgesonDanny Boyle's film crew at the Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson
Danny Boyle's film crew at the Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson

However, the Evening News revealed pictures of Bremner in character as Daniel “Spud” Murphy during pre-production in Muirhouse last week.

Yesterday crews were out in force in Leith, as filming took place at various locations, including The Central Bar in Leith Walk.

Trainspotting was based on author Irvine Welsh’s novel by the same name.

The long-awaited film will most likely be loosely based on Welsh’s 2002 sequel to Trainspotting, titled Porno.

Director Danny Boyle during filming at Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian GeorgesonDirector Danny Boyle during filming at Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson
Director Danny Boyle during filming at Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Carlyle, who will return to the part of “psycho” Begbie, has said the script for the new film is “absolutely fantastic” and stronger than the first film.

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The actor joined Welsh at the Usher Hall in March to mark 20 years since the release of the original movie, where he said that filming will take place “pretty much 50-50” between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Carlyle said: “I’m basing this on nothing other than the fact that the production office is on Bathgate. There’s a clue there.

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“What I will say is that all the characters are exactly where you would want them to be.

Danny Boyle's film crew at the Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian GeorgesonDanny Boyle's film crew at the Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson
Danny Boyle's film crew at the Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson

“The strength of this new script is the fact that the narrative is a bit stronger than it was in the original. In the first one, when you think about it, it’s hard to remember what they did other than get together, the drug deal at the end, and then it’s over.”

The actor said that fans will get a chance to find out how everyone’s lives have gone since they were last on screen.

“This has maybe got a wee bit more to it in terms of what they’ve been up to through these years,” he said. “You learn a lot about Renton, Sick Boy, and indeed Begbie, and where their heads are.

“I think it’s an absolutely fantastic script. John Hodge has done a wonderful job, as he did with the original.

Director Danny Boyle during filming at Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian GeorgesonDirector Danny Boyle during filming at Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson
Director Danny Boyle during filming at Central Bar on Leith Walk. Picture: Ian Georgeson

“Fingers crossed people will take it on board and they will enjoy it.”

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Meanwhile, a special 20th anniversary screening of Trainspotting will take place during this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.

To mark the 70th festival, a host of Scottish films will be shown, including new Jason Connery drama Tommy’s Honour and the world premiere of a new version of Whisky Galore!.