First look: Saipan trailer released showing Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane

Saipan will tell the story of the clash between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy in 2002

Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke in Saipan

A teaser trailer has been released for an upcoming film that focuses on an infamous confrontation in Irish football history.

Saipan will tell the story of the clash between Republic of Ireland football captain Roy Keane and his national team manager Mick McCarthy during the team’s preparations for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

 

The sporting figures are played by Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke and two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan in the film, which is directed by award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn.

Supporting cast include Alice Lowe ( Sightseers), Jamie Beamish ( Derry Girls), Alex Murphy ( The Young Offenders), Harriet Cains ( Bridgerton) and Peter McDonald ( The Batman).

Screenplay writer Paul Fraser recently told the Irish Examiner the Saipan drama was a huge international story.

“In the UK, he was massive, Roy Keane, and anyone who knows football also knows who Mick McCarthy is. So it's a story that's international as well as huge in Ireland. It was just massive, and I think divided the nation.”

There is no release date yet for Saipan but it is coming soon to Irish cinemas.