Infamous McCarthy and Keane Saipan bust-up set for the big screen with Steve Coogan to star

A new Irish feature film about the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign will go into production this summer.  

Two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan has been cast as the Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, with BAFTA nominated Cork native Éanna Hardwickeset to play captain Roy Keane. 

The much talked about fallout in the build-up to the tournament - Ireland’s last appearance at a World Cup - made headlines worldwide with Manchester United's Keane being sent home early, much to the dismay of Irish soccer fans. 

Award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Good Vibrations, Ordinary Love) are set to direct from an original script by Paul Fraser. 

Saipan will be made in association with Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, with a shoot set for Ireland and Saipan later this summer.  

Greg Martin is Executive Producer for Screen Ireland, with Ursula Devine Executive Producer for Northern Ireland Screen.

The film is produced by Macdara Kelleher and John Keville for Wild Atlantic Pictures along with Trevor Birney and Oliver Butler for Fine Point Films with Patrick O’Neill, Eoin Egan, and Rachael O’Kane serving as Executive Producers.

Producers Macdara Kelleher and John Keville said: “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 first-hand the feud between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy and why it was labelled ‘the worst preparation for a World Cup campaign ever’.”