Fans are having their say after the full trailer was unveiled on Friday
The first full trailer for the new Saipan movie starring Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy and Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane has been unveiled, and it is fair to say that the fan reaction on social media is split.
The film, which is due to be released on New Year’s Day in Ireland, will detail the breakdown in the relationship between former Ireland captain Keane and manager McCarthy, a breakdown which ultimately culminated in the infamous Saipan showdown at the 2002 World Cup.
We all know the story: A frustrated Keane was livid with the sub-standard training facilities, McCarthy was upset by Keane’s comments in the media that undermined his authority and it all ended in tears with Keane going home (or being sent home) before the World Cup even began.
Time has done little to heal the wounds. Indeed, it is very unlikely that you would ever hear Keane say anything positive about McCarthy of vice-versa.
23 years on, Keane and McCarthy’s careers are still inextricably linked. Keane took over at Sunderland following McCarthy’s reign, whil McCarthy came to Ipswich shortly after Keane’s departure in 2011.
McCarthy also replaced Martin O’Neill as Ireland boss in 2019. Keane, of course, had been assistant to O’Neill during his time in charge.
With all that in mind, the new movie has attracted major attention, especially in Ireland and the UK, with Keane’s prominent media presence no doubt helping to increase interest in the film.
Neither Keane nor McCarthy have said too much about the project, but with the full trailer finally released, fans have taken to social media to give their take on what they have seen.
Opinion seems fairly split. On the one hand, plenty of fans are excited for the film and believe Coogan and Hardwicke look excellent in their roles.
“Holy s*** that impersonation of Roy is brilliant. Would love to hear him have a go at the interview he did with Gorman after Saipan though. See how high pitched his impersonation can go,” said one fan.
“It’s been a long time since a trailer has hyped me up so much to see a movie as this has,” said another fan.
“Can’t wait for this”, said another, while one more fan posted “This looks FANTASTIC!!”
However, not everyone has been impressed by the trailer, with the most common criticism being that fans don’t think Coogan or Hardwicke look enough like the real life versions of the characters they are playing.
“They could’ve dragged a random guy out the pub and he would’ve looked more like Roy Keane than that guy did,” posted one user on X.
“This looks w***, close my eyes and it’s Paul Calf, why the hell have they used Coogan??” said another.
“The actor looking nothing like Keane is taking me out of it completely,” posted another fan, while another wrote “That lad looks more like Sheasy than Keano.”
The film is set to hit cinemas on New Year’s Day, 2026.
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