Academy Award-nominated actor Don Cheadle and Irish actor Brendan Gleeson have commenced production on their latest comedy thriller "The Guard" in the West of Ireland.

The film will follow the story of an unorthodox small-town Irish policeman (Gleeson) who unites with a straitlaced FBI agent (Cheadle) to take on a cocaine-smuggling ring.

Liam Cunningham, Pat Shortt, Fionnuala Flanagan, Mark Strong, David Wilmot, Rory Keenan, and Katarina Cas also star in the film.

"Ned Kelly" writer John Michael McDonagh has penned the script and is also directing the project.

Cheadle will be seen in the sequel for "Iron Man" next year. He will play Lt. Colonel James "Rhodey Rhodes," a role previously held by Terrence Howard in the first film.

Gleeson is known to "Harry Potter" fans as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. He also earned various Best Actor nominations for his role in 2008's "In Bruges."