Cannes 2012: Steve Coogan Tunes in to 'Northern Soul'

British comedian and actor Steve Coogan is set to return to big screen music roles after signing to star in Elaine Constantine's Northern Soul.

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Coogan, who starred as Factory Records founder Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People, has agreed to star in Constantine's film, which is about the 1970s underground music movement that took Northern England by storm. Coogan joins a cast already boasting James Lance, Christian McKay and Roisin Murphy.

Constantine and producer Debbie Gray also previously cast Elliot James Langridge and Josh Whitehouse as the leads while British singer Lisa Stansfield also appears.

The film details the tale of a nightclub-based music movement, which developed in bleak industrial North-West England, as the tail-end of mod culture delved ever deeper into black American soul music.

Robbie Little’s worldwide sales and distribution company, The Little Film Company, is introducing the project to buyers for the first time in Cannes and drumming up international sales for Northern Soul.

Production is set to begin in early June in Northern England. The film will shoot in authentic Victorian dance halls to recreate the nightclub Wigan Casino, which back in its heyday hosted famous Northern Soul all-nighters. The U.K.’s Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is providing funding for the film with support from private equity sources.

Coogan's business partner Henry Normal will serve as executive producer.