Rising Irish star and BAFTA nominee Ianna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment, Lakelands) is set to play Manchester United and Ireland football legend Roy Keane in upcoming Irish film Saipan. diverse Hardwicke will be joined by two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan (“Philomena,” “The Reckoning”), who will play Mick McCarthy, the former Irish football coach who had a notorious falling out with Keane.
“Saipan” is directed by Glenn Leybourne and Lisa Barros D’Sa — the duo behind the critically acclaimed 2013 Irish comedy-drama “Good Vibrations” and the 2019 romance “Ordinary Love,” starring Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville — from an original screenplay by Paul Fraser (“Dead Man’s Shoes”), and is set to begin production this summer.
The film's title comes from the infamous “Saipan Incident” of 2002, when Keane was captain of the Irish national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Japan. While preparing on the small island of Saipan, the football star – known for his hot-headed nature on and off the pitch – had a very public and bitter falling out with McCarthy, reportedly angry about training conditions, strategy, travel arrangements, diet and even McCarthy's competence.
A subsequent interview with Keane in the Irish press caused a major backlash in the camp, with the footballer reportedly delivering an angry tirade to McCarthy in front of his team-mates, telling him to “put the World Cup up your arse” before returning to Ireland (although McCarthy later stated that he had sent him home). The incident caused a major debate in Irish society about who was responsible and Keane did not play for his country again until 2004, after McCarthy resigned as manager.
“Saipan” — described as “dealing with the events that led to Ireland’s scorching 2002 World Cup campaign” — is produced by Macdara Kelleher and John Keville for Wild Atlantic Pictures (“Evil Dead Rise,” “Cocaine Bear”) along with Trevor Birney and Oliver Butler for Fine Point Films (“Kneecap,” “Bobby Sands: 66 Days”) with Patrick O’Neill, Eoin Egan and Rachael O’Kane serving as executive producers.
Wildcard and Vertigo Releasing have acquired the UK and Irish rights to the film, with theatrical release scheduled for summer 2025. Bankside Films has also prepared the film for worldwide sales, with Stephen Kelleher and Sophie Greene serving as executive producers. Saipan will be produced in association with Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, with filming scheduled in Ireland and Saipan. Greg Martin is executive producer for Screen Ireland, with Ursula Devine executive producer for Northern Ireland Screen.
“A million words have been written about what happened that fateful week in 2002 on the small island of Saipan,” said producers Kelleher and Keevil. “Next year, audiences will finally be able to experience first-hand the feud between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy and why it was described as ‘the worst World Cup build-up ever’. We are incredibly excited that Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leybourne will direct this iconic story with our equally iconic cast.”
“We are thrilled to be working with this exceptional creative team to tell the story of an infamous moment in Irish history and football that drew battle lines across the nation, threw its hopes, dreams and sense of identity into chaos and briefly transformed a small volcanic island in the Pacific into one of the most famous places on Earth,” the directors added.
Beyond their acting credentials, Hardwick and Coogan have important connections to their characters. Hardwick is from Cork, the birthplace of Keane (often considered the city’s “most famous son”). Coogan’s parents, meanwhile, are of Irish descent (his mother was born in County Mayo) and he has long considered himself half-Irish, having obtained an Irish passport last year. McCarthy, who like Coogan was born in England, has an Irish father and played for Ireland at the 1990 World Cup, becoming team manager six years later.
“Vertigo Releasing and Wildcard are delighted to partner on Saipan, which is set to hit major UK and Irish cinemas in summer 2025,” the distributors said. “The events of Saipan have divided the nation, but we are certain that everyone will unite in their love for this once-in-a-generation Irish film, directed by the brilliant filmmaking team of Glenn Leybourne and Lisa Barros D’Sa.”
Coogan is represented by Independent Talent and CAA, with Multitude Media handling public relations. Hardwicke is represented by Curtis Brown and Susannah Norris Agency, with Multitude Media handling public relations.
