JASON McAteer joked he’s already seen the forthcoming Saipan film after its trailer was released on Monday.
The 76-second teaser was met with a mixed response from Ireland fans with the most common quibble being Éanna Hardwicke not bearing much of a likeness to Roy Keane.
McAteer joked ‘Seen it’ upon the trailer being released yesterday[/caption]
After cracking a gag about having already seen that whole infamous episode in Irish football history, McAteer was met with plenty of similarly light-hearted replies as no one knows quite what to expect when it hits cinemas this summer.
Sean quipped: “Saipan? Completed it mate.” Meanwhile Steven added: “You saw it in 3D bud.”
John asked: “Who’s playing you in it?”
Lastly, Richard pondered: “Who’d have won the scrap? Guessing Keane as the younger man, but reckon Mick might’ve been too big for him?”
The trailer showcases the remote island in the Pacific Ocean that went down in Irish football infamy as a blazing row between the two resulted in Ireland’s captain playing no part in the 2002 World Cup.
We hear both actors in character and naturally enough, their voices are raised in virtually every snippet.
There’s also atmospheric news bulletins read out in order to hammer home how this was a story that dominated front pages as well as back across the entire Irish media landscape.
76 seconds is never going to be enough to make a worthwhille judgement from any film but the prevailing point of debate touched upon Hardwicke’s appearance.
Several fans voiced their concern that no matter how adept of an actor he is, he simply doesn’t bear enough of a resemblance to Keane to fully inhabit the role.
Paul commented: “As expected, Coogan nails McCarthy but they could have at least attempted to cast an actor with some kind of resemblance to Keane.”
Similarly, Michael added: “That bloke looks nothing like Roy Keane, he looks more like Vinny Jones. I mean Roy Keane is alive should have just got the man himself.”
Additionally, Steven expressed his anger by quoting Keane’s most famous catchphrase.
He quipped: “It doesn’t look like they can do their job i.e. Be believable as Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy!!”
POSITIVE PRESS
However, not everyone was immediately casting a pessimistic eye based off what they saw from the cast and the wider film-making style on show.
IFB Media posted: “Excited to see this! The Saipan incident is/was one of the most divisive stories in modern memory and it’s not even close.
“What could’ve been with Roy will never be known but it’s sad when you consider we haven’t returned to the World Cup since the 2002 tournament. 2026?”
Philip also sounded keen on it as he drew a parallel between the World Cup flashpoint and an equally significant historic event.
He tweeted: “Can’t wait for this – the trailer is giving Cuba Missile Crisis vibes.”
The production behind the project – Wild Atlantic Pictures – was involved with the likes of the award-winning Kneecap movie as well Cocaine Bear.
