Wildcard and Vertigo Releasing have today released the teaser trailer for Saipan, the eagerly awaited new film about the infamous confrontation between iconic Republic of Ireland football captain Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) and his national team manager Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan) during the team’s preparations for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Due to arrive in Irish cinemas this summer, Saipan tells the story of the most shocking, volatile and heartbreaking split in Irish soccer history, at least until Damien Duff resigned as Shelbourne manager yesterday. Hardwicke plays fellow Cork man Roy Keane, former Manchester United and Ireland captain and one of Ireland’s finest ever players, with Steve Coogan playing national team manager Mick McCarthy, as the film follows the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign.
The intense rivalry between these two personalities transcended the game, gripping 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. Saipan‘s ambition is to be the definitive account of one of the most fractious fallings-out in the history of sport.
Directed by award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Good Vibrations, Ordinary Love) and based on an original script by Paul Fraser (Heartlands, A Room for Romeo Brass), the film also includes Alice Lowe (Sightseers), Jamie Beamish (Derry Girls), Alex Murphy (The Young Offenders), Harriet Cains (Bridgerton) and Peter McDonald (The Batman) among its supporting cast.
Showing the isolated island 14 days out from the 2002 World Cup held across Japan and South Korea, the teaser reveals glimpses of the unrest in the Ireland camp between Keane and McCarthy. Audio of news reports, speculation and debate about the split is mixed with commentary of Keane’s prowess on the pitch, as we see Hardwicke’s Keano; tensed, glowering and contemplative, cut between clips of the training camp, and Coogan’s McCarthy. The tension highlights the tension and the divide that grew in the side, underscored by the hashtag Wildcard have put out for promotion: #ChooseYourSide. For those too young to understand the depth of this debate, imagine Edward vs Jacob from Twilight, mixed with the Irish Civil War.
When it’s time to review, will we be looking at Roy: Kino, or will it be a Sigh, Pan? Only time will tell, but as the first look comes together we can start to get an idea. You can check out the teaser trailer for Saipan below.
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 Fís Éireann/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, Coimisiún na Meán and RTÉ. Bankside Films are handling worldwide sales.