The summer of 2002 divided Ireland, and now it’s coming to the big screen. Vertigo Releasing and Wildcard have unveiled the first teaser trailer for SAIPAN, chronicling the explosive feud between Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy during the team’s chaotic 2002 FIFA World Cup preparations.
At the center of this highly anticipated film stands Éanna Hardwicke, the BAFTA-nominated Cork native who has rapidly become one of Ireland’s most compelling young actors. Following his breakthrough performances in LAKELANDS and THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT, Hardwicke now tackles his most challenging role yet: embodying Roy Keane, the most famous and controversial Corkman in football history.
The casting feels inspired. Hardwicke has built his career on complex, morally ambiguous characters, making him perfectly suited to capture Keane’s mercurial personality. His recent work demonstrates a remarkable ability to convey both vulnerability and explosive rage, essential qualities for portraying a player who was simultaneously revered and feared. In LAKELANDS, he proved he could carry a film through subtle expression and minimal dialogue. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT showcased his range in handling real-life controversy with nuance and depth.
The trailer offers compelling glimpses of Hardwicke’s transformation, delivering Keane’s words with chilling conviction: “You don’t ever tell me we’re done. I’m just getting started.” Despite immense expectations surrounding this iconic figure, Hardwicke appears ready for the challenge.
Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, who helmed GOOD VIBRATIONS and ORDINARY LOVE, SAIPAN promises depth beyond typical sports films. These filmmakers consistently find human truth within cultural moments, understanding that the Keane-McCarthy confrontation transcended football facilities to become a clash of fundamentally different philosophies about leadership, standards, and national representation.
Steve Coogan brings his understated intensity to Mick McCarthy, supported by Alice Lowe, Jamie Beamish, Alex Murphy, Harriet Cains, and Peter McDonald in what promises to be a richly textured ensemble piece.
The film’s timing is particularly intriguing. More than two decades later, this wound remains fresh in Irish culture, with pub debates still raging over who was right. SAIPAN arrives precisely when Hardwicke’s career trajectory positions him for such weighty material. His recent performances reveal an actor unafraid of difficult subjects, capable of finding humanity in flawed characters without excusing their actions.
For Hardwicke, SAIPAN represents a career-defining moment. Taking on Roy Keane means embodying not just a footballer, but a cultural lightning rod whose legacy remains fiercely contested. His Cork origins provide authenticity, but more crucially, his proven ability to navigate moral complexity suggests he can capture both Keane’s brilliance and destructive tendencies without descending into caricature.
The original incident split the nation between Team Keane and Team McCarthy, exposing deeper questions about perfectionism, loyalty, and the price of uncompromising standards. Paul Fraser’s script, from the writer of HEARTLANDS and A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, promises to explore these underlying currents rather than simply rehashing familiar arguments.
Whether you supported Keane or McCarthy during that fractious summer, Hardwicke’s portrayal will likely reignite passionate debates while offering fresh insights into one of sport’s most infamous falling-outs. For an actor who consistently chooses challenging, thought-provoking projects, SAIPAN represents the natural evolution of what’s developing into a truly remarkable career.
📺 NEW TRAILER ALERT 📺
Premiering Aug 28, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB follows four retirees who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun - based on @misterosman’s bestselling novel.
Visit irishfilmtv.com for more!
🎭 LEGEND RETURNS TO THE STAGE 🎭
From Mad-Eye Moody to Uncle Pastuzo, Brendan Gleeson has captivated us on screen for decades. Now he`s making his WEST END DEBUT in THE WEIR! Dublin first (Aug 8-Sep 6) then London`s Harold Pinter Theatre (Sep 12-Dec 6).
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎭 From beloved DERRY GIRL to Chekhov star!
Saoirse-Monica Jackson is trading the screen for the stage in Kabosh`s bold new adaptation of THREE SISTERS at @gaiety_theatre.
Visit irishfilmtv.com for ticket links!
Liam Neeson just crushed it as Frank Drebin Jr. in THE NAKED GUN and now he`s diving headfirst into horror comedy with COLD STORAGE.
At 72, Neeson is still choosing the wildest projects and we`re absolutely here for it. COLD STORAGE hits theaters next year!
Watch the crazy trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
NEW trailer alert! 🎬 From STAR WARS galaxies to Ohio newsrooms!
Domhnall Gleeson is trading his General Hux uniform for editor-in-chief duties in THE PAPER - @peacock!`s brilliant new spin on THE OFFICE universe.
Premiering Sep 4, watch trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
From the Scottish Highlands to the boxing ring 🥊✨
Caitriona Balfe trades tartan for training gloves in THE CUT, Sean Ellis` brutal psychological boxing drama.
Our OUTLANDER queen steps WAY outside her comfort zone as Caitlin - wife, trainer, and witness to Orlando Bloom`s obsessed fighter spiraling toward self-destruction.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎵 "Music to scare priests and politicians" 🎵
@celtic_utopia is shaking up everything you thought you knew about Irish folk music. This isn`t your typical Celtic sound— it`s raw, rebellious, and revolutionary.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
DERRY GIRLS and GAME OF THRONES star Ian McElhinney hits the stage at @theeverymancork!
Running until Aug 10th - STONES IN HIS POCKETS has heart, humor, and a Hollywood ending that`ll leave you grinning! 🎭
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Hollywood heavyweights Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander as... otherworldly beings? 👀
Na Hong-jin is BACK! After 10 years since THE WAILING left us speechless, the master of psychological horror returns with HOPE - hitting theaters next summer!
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 From "I will find you" to "I will make you laugh" - Liam Neeson is trading his particular set of skills for punchlines in THE NAKED GUN!
Is this Neeson`s Leslie Nielsen moment? Could we be witnessing the birth of comedy`s newest unlikely hero?
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott`s BLUE MOON trailer released!
Shot in Ireland, this Richard Linklater gem pairs Scott with Ethan Hawke for a 1943 Broadway drama that`s already being called a masterpiece. Scott plays composer Richard Rodgers in what critics are calling his most nuanced performance yet 🎵
Watch trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
🎩✨ Daryl McCormack is trading modern drama for Regency romance! The GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE star has officially joined Netflix`s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE adaptation as the charming Mr. Bingley 💕
From intimate character studies to Jane Austen`s ballrooms - this Irish talent continues to prove his incredible range! He`ll be swooning alongside Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden, and Olivia Colman in what promises to be THE period drama event of 2025 👑
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🔥 @sarahbolger is bringing Irish fire to Hell`s Kitchen! 🔥
The MAYANS MC star just landed a killer role in MGM+`s THE WESTIES - a gritty crime series about NYC`s most notorious Irish gang.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🌊 WOKEN: When you wake up on a remote Irish island with no memory, surrounded by "loved ones" you don`t recognize... and that`s just the beginning 😱
@mr_friel `s atmospheric thriller serves up classic ingredients: windswept Irish cliffs, flickering candlelight, and Maxine Peake being suspiciously kind.
Stream now on @mubi.
🎬 Paul Mescal is about to make us all cry again... and we`re here for it 😭
From NORMAL PEOPLE to gladiator to heartbreaking folk song collector – is there anything this man can`t do?
THE HISTORY OF SOUND hits theaters September 19. Consider this your tissue warning ⚠️
Trailer now at irishfilmtv.com.
