CRITICALLY-acclaimed actor Steve Coogan is set to play Barnsley man Mick McCarthy in an upcoming film which depicts the infamous World Cup fallout of 2002.
The film, called Saipan, is centred around the incident where Roy Keane clashed with the Worsbrough-born man, resulting in him leaving the training camp before the competition started.
The fallout between the pair and the media frenzy that ensued will be the main focus of the film, which is being made in association with Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen.
Lancashire-born Coogan, who is most famous for his role as Alan Partridge, has recently portrayed Jimmy Saville.
The movie is to begin production this summer on locations in Ireland and Saipan.
McCarthy rose through the ranks at Barnsley before he left for Manchester City in 1983 – he then became the Republic of Ireland manager, who he had played for internationally, in 1996 before leaving his role in 2002 following the disagreement.
Fellow Cork man and Bafta-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke, who is known for roles in The Sixth Commandment and Lakelands, is to play Keane.
Award-winning filmmakers Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa are behind the film.
They said: “We’re thrilled to be working with this extraordinary cast and creative team to tell the story of an infamous moment in Irish and football history that drew battle lines across a nation, cast its hopes, dreams and sense of identity into disarray, and briefly made a tiny volcanic island in the Pacific one of the most famous places on earth.”
