“Saipan,” the critically acclaimed Irish drama about the infamous fallout between former Irish soccer star Roy Keane and national team manager Mick McCarthy, is heading to the U.S. just in time for this summer’s World Cup.
Sunrise Films has acquired North American rights to the film, starring BAFTA nominee Éanna Hardwicke (“Lakelands,” “The Sixth Commandment”) as Keane and two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan (“Philomena,” “The Reckoning”) as McCarthy, from Bankside Films. Sunrise is now planning a theatrical release in select U.S. cinemas on March 13.
Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (“Good Vibrations,” “Ordinary Love”), “Saipan” chronicles one on most notorious moments in Irish sporting history and the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign. While preparing for the tournament on the Japanese island of Saipan, the famously hot-headed Irish captain Keane had a very public, very bitter disagreement with manager McCarthy, resulting in him flying home before it even began. Described as a “true-life comedy of the most epic proportions,” the film explores this intense rivalry, one that gripped an entire nation and transcended the game.
“Saipan” is based on an original script by Paul Fraser (“Heartlands,” “A Room for Romeo Brass”) and also stars Alice Lowe (“Sightseers”), Jamie Beamish (“Derry Girls”), Alex Murphy (“The Young Offenders”), Harriet Cains (“Bridgerton”) and Peter McDonald (“The Batman”).
It has already proved to be a box office hit in Ireland, where it’s expected to cross $1m at the box office this weekend, and will be released theatrically in the United Kingdom by Vertigo Releasing on Jan. 23.
“We are delighted to be releasing ‘Saipan’ to audiences in North America following its rollout across the U.K.,” said Sunrise’s head of U.S. and international distribution Andrew Nerger. “Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke are utterly brilliant in their roles, elevating the film into a compelling character study that transcends football and should connect with audiences well beyond the sport. With another World Cup year approaching and the Republic of Ireland in contention for qualification for the first time since the events depicted in 2002, it’s never been more timely to go back to ‘Saipan’ in 2026.”
The deal was negotiated by Nerger on behalf of Sunrise with Yana Georgieva and Kriszta Laszlo of Bankside Films, representing the filmmakers.
The film was 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.