Saipan (film)

Saipan
Directed byGlenn Leyburn
Lisa Barros D’Sa
Screenplay byPaul Fraser
Produced by
  • Macdara Kelleher
  • John Keville
  • Trevor Birney
  • Oliver Butler
Starring
Production
companies
  • Wild Atlantic Pictures
  • Fine Point Films
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 4 September 2025 (2025-09-04) (TIFF)
  • 23 January 2026 (2026-01-23) (United Kingdom)
Running time
90 minutes[1]
CountriesUnited Kingdom
Ireland
LanguageEnglish

Saipan is a 2025 sports film about the Republic of Ireland national football team and the eponymous Saipan incident between player Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy in the lead up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke star as McCarthy and Keane respectively.

Premise

On the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Irish captain Roy Keane forfeits his place in the squad at the team's preparation base in Saipan, following a heated disagreement with the Irish manager Mick McCarthy.[3]

Cast

Production

The film is directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa from a script by Paul Fraser. It is produced by Macdara Kelleher and John Keville for Wild Atlantic Pictures along with Trevor Birney and Oliver Butler for Fine Point Films.[4] It is made in association with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen.[5]

In July 2024, Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke were cast in the roles of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy and Ireland captain Roy Keane.[6] Jack Hickey joined the cast as Niall Quinn the following month.[7] Harriet Cains was cast as Keane's wife Theresa.[8] Coogan told Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Show that he had "a chat" with Mick McCarthy before portraying him, saying he "wanted to make sure that if I was going to take part in it, it was a balanced depiction".[9]

Principal photography began in Belfast in August 2024.[10]

Reception

In September 2025, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was favourably reviewed by The Guardian and described as “the rare football movie that’s worth a replay.”[11]

Damon Wise for Deadline calls the film a "surprisingly profound soccer comedy."[12]

Release

The film will release in Ireland on December 26 2025 and United Kingdom on 23 January 2026 by Vertigo Releasing.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Saipan (15)". British Board of Film Classification. October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  2. ^ "Saipan (2026)". Irish Film Classification Office. November 14, 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  3. ^ Coates, Tom (July 29, 2024). "Saipan film: Barnsley legend Mick McCarthy to be played by Steve Coogan in movie about Roy Keane spat". Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Ritman, Alex (July 29, 2024). "Steve Coogan to Play Mick McCarthy, Éanna Hardwicke Cast as Roy Keane in 'Saipan' Film About Irish Soccer Icon's Infamous World Cup Walkout (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Steve Coogan to play Mick McCarthy in Saipan clash film". RTE. July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  6. ^ McTaggart, Maeve (July 29, 2024). "Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke to star as Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane in new film about Saipan". Indpemdent.ie. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Rowan, Paul (August 4, 2024). "Actors to play Keane and McCarthy in Saipan World Cup film shot in Ireland". The Times. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Masterston, Eugene (September 17, 2024). "First look: Meet actress set to play Roy Keane's wife in 'Saipan' movie". Sunday World. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "Steve Coogan talked to Mick McCarthy before making Saipan". RTE. February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  10. ^ Hogan, Laura (August 7, 2024). "Saipan filming to begin in Belfast this week". RTE. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Lee, Benjamin (September 5, 2025). "Saipan review – football scandal makes for thrilling big-screen drama". The Guardian. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  12. ^ Wise, Damon (September 5, 2025). "'Saipan' Review: Newcomer Éanna Hardwicke Is An Electric Presence In This Smart Irish Soccer Comedy-Drama – Toronto Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  13. ^ "All Future Releases". Film Distributors’ Association. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
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