BAFTA-nominated Irish actor Ãanna Hardwicke will portray Manchester United and Republic of Ireland legend Roy Keane in the upcoming Irish feature film "Saipan," alongside two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan as former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.
The film delves into the infamous "Saipan Incident" of 2002, a period of intense controversy surrounding the Republic of Ireland's preparation for the FIFA World Cup finals in Japan. Keane, renowned for his fiery temperament both on and off the pitch, publicly clashed with McCarthy, reportedly furious with training conditions, strategy, travel arrangements, diet, and McCarthy's management.
The film, directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros DâSa (known for the critically acclaimed Irish comedy-drama "Good Vibrations" and the 2019 romance "Ordinary Love"), will be based on an original script by Paul Fraser. It is set to begin filming this summer.
The title of the film, "Saipan," refers to the tiny island in the Pacific where the heated disagreement between Keane and McCarthy took place. The incident escalated when Keane, in a highly publicized interview with the Irish press, launched into a scathing verbal attack on McCarthy in front of his teammates, famously telling him to "stick your World Cup up your arse" before flying back to Ireland. Although McCarthy later stated he sent Keane home, the incident caused a significant stir in Irish society, with accusations of blame flying back and forth. Keane would not play for Ireland again until 2004, after McCarthy had stepped down as manager.
"Saipan" is described as a story about "the events leading up to Ireland's incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign" and is being produced by Macdara Kelleher and John Keville for Wild Atlantic Pictures ("Evil Dead Rise," "Cocaine Bear") alongside Trevor Birney and Oliver Butler for Fine Point Films ("Kneecap," "Bobby Sands: 66 Days"). Patrick O'Neill, Eoin Egan, and Rachael O'Kane serve as executive producers.
Wildcard and Vertigo Releasing have acquired UK and Irish distribution rights for the film, planning a widespread theatrical release in summer 2025. Bankside Films has boarded the project for worldwide sales, with Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Green as executive producers. "Saipan" will be made in association with Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, with filming taking place in Ireland and Saipan. Greg Martin is executive producer for Screen Ireland, with Ursula Devine serving as executive producer for Northern Ireland Screen.
Producers Kelleher and Keville commented, "A million words have been written about what happened on that fateful week in 2002 on the tiny island of Saipan. Next year, audiences will finally get to experience firsthand the feud between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy and why it was labelled 'the worst preparation for a World Cup campaign ever'. We are so excited to have Lisa Barros DâSa and Glenn Leyburn direct this iconic story with our equally iconic cast."
The directors added, "We're thrilled to be working with this extraordinary cast and creative team to tell the story of an infamous moment in Irish and football history that drew battle lines across a nation, cast its hopes, dreams and sense of identity into disarray, and briefly made a tiny volcanic island in the Pacific one of the most famous places on earth."
The casting choices for Hardwicke and Coogan seem particularly fitting. Hardwicke, a native of Cork, shares his birthplace with Keane, who is considered one of the city's most famous sons. Coogan, whose parents are of Irish descent, has long held a close connection to Ireland, having received an Irish passport last year. McCarthy, although born in England, has an Irish father and played for the Republic of Ireland at the 1990 World Cup, becoming the team's manager six years later.
"Vertigo Releasing and Wildcard are delighted to be partnering on 'Saipan,' which is set to be a major theatrical release in UK and Ireland in summer 2025," said the distributors. "The events of Saipan divided a nation, but we are sure everyone will be united in their love for this once in a generation Irish film directed by the brilliant filmmaking team of Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros DâSa."
Coogan is represented by Independent Talent and CAA with Multitude Media handling PR. Hardwicke is represented by Curtis Brown and Susannah Norris Agency with Multitude Media handling PR.
