Aisling Bea has joined the cast of "Starman", a sci-fi thriller starring Brendan Fraser and Jeff Daniels, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. The Irish actress and BAFTA winner will play Julia Hanley, an Irish photographer who becomes romantically involved with Fraser's character, an architect leading a historic Mars expedition that goes catastrophically wrong. The casting adds another notable name to a project already boasting Oscar and Emmy-winning leads.

Directed by Josh Wakely from his own screenplay, "Starman" is currently filming in Australia with backing from Screen NSW's Made in NSW Fund. Bea, 42, is best known for creating and starring in "This Way Up" and recently completed a sold-out UK and Ireland stand-up tour; she will next appear in Netflix's adaptation of "Grown Ups". The production, from Grace: A Storytelling Company and Sight Unseen, counts David S. Goyer among its executive producers and was launched for international sales at this year's Cannes Film Festival.