SAIPAN First-look Image Released starring Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke
Wildcard and Bankside Films have shared an exciting first look still from award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s (Good Vibrations, Ordinary Love) SAIPAN, based on an original script by Paul Fraser (Heartlands, A Room for Romeo Brass).
Based on the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign, SAIPAN stars BAFTA nominated Cork native Éanna Hardwick (Lakelands, The Sixth Commandment), who will play Ireland football captain Roy Keane, with two-time Academy Award® nominee Steve Coogan (Philomena, The Reckoning) cast as the Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. Supporting cast include Alice Lowe (Sightseers), Jamie Beamish (Derry Girls), Alex Murphy (The Young Offenders), Harriett Cairns (Bridgerton) and Peter McDonald (The Batman).
SAIPAN is the thrilling story of soccer player Roy Keane and his manager Mick McCarthy and the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign. The intense rivalry between these two personalities transcended the game and gripped an entire nation and the sporting world. On the surface, the feud was all about standards, but deep down it was a hugely emotive story of two men whose rivalry and contempt came to surpass the sport they loved. A true-life comedy of the most epic proportions. This is the definitive account of one of the most fractious falling-outs in the history of sport.
The film is produced by Macdara Kelleher and John Keville for Wild Atlantic Pictures (Evil Dead Rise, Cocaine Bear, Black 47) along with Trevor Birney and Oliver Butler for Fine Point Films (Kneecap, No Stone Unturned) with Patrick O’Neill and Rachael O’Kane serving as Executive Producers.
SAIPAN is made in association with Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen. Greg Martin is Executive Producer for Screen Ireland, with Ursula Devine Executive Producer for Northern Ireland Screen. Funding has also been provided from BFI Global Screen and Coimisiún na Meán.
Wildcard and Vertigo Releasing have acquired UK and Ireland rights on the film and are scheduling a saturation theatrical release in 2025. Bankside Films are representing the film for Worldwide sales, and will be showing a promo to buyers at the American Film Market in Las Vegas next month.
