SAIPAN trailer released

SAIPAN trailer released

SAIPAN trailer released

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.

Cork's own Éanna Hardwicke is about to step into the boots of @officialkeane16 for SAIPAN - and the first trailer has us HOOKED!

From LAKELANDS to THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT, this BAFTA-nominated powerhouse has been building toward this moment.

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

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Éanna Hardwicke to receive Oscar Wilde Award

Éanna Hardwicke to Be Honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards

Éanna Hardwicke to Be Honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards

Rising Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke is set to receive the prestigious “Wilde Card” Award at the 19th annual Oscar Wilde Awards, continuing a legacy of recognition for emerging Irish talent. At 28, Hardwicke has already carved an impressive path in the entertainment industry, with a career that began in youth theatre and has rapidly blossomed into a series of compelling performances across film and television.

His journey into acting started early, participating in youth programs at the Gaiety School of Acting and National Association of Youth Drama. Hardwicke’s breakthrough came with a child actor role in Conor McPherson’s horror film THE ECLIPSE, and he later graduated from The Lír, Ireland’s National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin. Just before graduating, he landed a significant role in the critically acclaimed film VIVARIUM, which premiered at Cannes in 2019, sharing the screen with Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg.

Since then, Hardwicke has become a versatile performer, appearing in notable productions like NORMAL PEOPLE, FATE: THE WINX SAGA, and THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT, for which he received several awards. His recent projects showcase his range, from A VERY ROYAL SCANDAL to the upcoming SAIPAN, where he portrays Irish football legend Roy Keane opposite Steve Coogan. Currently, he’s filming NO ORDINARY HEIST with Eddie Marsan, further solidifying his reputation as a rising star.

Hardwicke’s creativity extends beyond acting. His short film AT ARM’S LENGTH, co-written with Tom Monahan, was funded through Screen Ireland’s Actor as Creator scheme and premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2022. His selection as one of Screen International’s inaugural Rising Stars Ireland highlights the industry’s recognition of his potential.

The Oscar Wilde Awards, to be held on February 27th, 2025, at the Ebell of Los Angeles, will honor Hardwicke alongside actor John C. Reilly. Sponsored by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, the event celebrates the vibrant connection between Irish and American entertainment, with Hardwicke representing the exciting new generation of Irish acting talent.

 

Éanna Hardwicke in SAIPAN

éanna hardwicke

Fast-rising and BAFTA-nominated Irish star Éanna Hardwicke (NORMAL PEOPLE) is set to play Manchester United and Ireland soccer legend Roy Keane in upcoming Irish feature SAIPAN. Hardwicke will be joined by two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan (PHILOMENA), who will star as Mick McCarthy, the former Ireland soccer manager with whom Keane had an infamous falling out. The film’s title comes from the infamous so-called “Saipan Incident” in 2002, when Keane was captaining the Irish national side ahead of the FIFA World Cup finals in Japan. 

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