The upcoming Irish feature film ‘Saipan’ is set to depict the infamous fallout between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy ahead of the 2002 World Cup finals. The film, which is being made in association with Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, will focus on the so-called “Saipan incident” where Keane, captaining the Republic of Ireland, had a public disagreement with manager McCarthy, leading to his departure from the camp.
Éanna Hardwicke will play Roy Keane, while Steve Coogan is set to portray Mick McCarthy in the movie, which is scheduled to begin production this summer on locations in Ireland and Saipan. The film is being directed by award-winning filmmakers Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa, known for their work on the critically-lauded Irish comedy-drama ‘Good Vibrations’.
The fallout between Keane and McCarthy, and the media frenzy that followed, will be the central focus of the film. The incident caused a huge controversy in Irish society, with Keane not playing for his country again until 2004. The movie aims to shed light on this infamous moment in Irish and football history, drawing battle lines across the nation and briefly making a tiny volcanic island in the Pacific one of the most famous places on earth.
