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Producers from Ireland and Northern Ireland are calling for the creation of shared island funds to allow for a more streamlined and united way of working across both sides of the border.

“We’ve been lobbying for the creation of a new screen industry shared island fund, because it’s a very turbulent world out there. It’s not easy, particularly in independent film, to try to put these films together,” said Trevor Birney of Belfast-based Fine Point Films, a producer on Bafta-winning UK-Ireland co-production Kneecap.

“You’ve got two different funds on the island of Ireland. We’ve got Screen Ireland,...

"What makes him a great player on the pitch, makes him a pain in the ass off it." Vertigo Releasing in the UK has revealed a first look teaser trailer for a film titled Saipan, set to open later this year sometime. This Irish film made by filmmakers Lisa Barros D'Sa & Glenn Leyburn tells a very Irish story about an epic sports rivalry back in 2002. Not everyone will be so familiar this story over the in US, but it still looks like it'll be compelling to watch anyway. On the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Irish soccer/football team captain Roy Keane forfeits his place in the squad at the team's base in Saipan, after a heated disagreement with the Irish manager Mick McCarthy. This is the thrilling story of their infamous confrontation and what happened next. The upcoming film stars Éanna Hardwicke as Roy and Steve Coogan as Mick,...

Vertigo Releasing and Wildcard have debuted the teaser trailer for ‘Saipan’, the new film about the infamous confrontation between iconic Republic of Ireland football captain Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) and his national team manager Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan) during the team’s preparations for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

The thrilling story of football player Roy Keane and his manager Mick McCarthy, and the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign. The intense rivalry between these two personalities transcended the game, gripping an entire nation and the sporting world. On the surface, the feud was all about standards, but deep down, it was a profoundly emotive story of two men whose rivalry and contempt ultimately surpassed the sport they loved. This is the definitive account of one of the most fractious fallings-out in the history of sport.

Directed by award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn and...

A new film is shining a spotlight on one of the most controversial moments in Irish football. Saipan, an Irish drama based on the explosive fallout between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy ahead of the 2002 World Cup, has just dropped its first trailer—offering fans a first look at what’s coming.

Éanna Hardwicke stars as Keane, with Steve Coogan playing McCarthy, in a story that revisits the now-infamous training camp in Saipan. The camp, which was supposed to prepare the Republic of Ireland squad for the tournament, instead became the setting for one of the most dramatic player-manager clashes in Irish sporting history.

The film is directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, who previously worked on Ordinary Love and Good Vibrations. The script comes from Paul Fraser, known for his work on Heartlands. Alongside the two leads, the cast also features Alice Lowe, Jamie Beamish, Alex Murphy,...

A new Irish film called Saipan is bringing the story of one of the most talked-about moments in Irish football back into the spotlight. The first trailer for the movie has now been released, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from this intense drama based on real events.

The film centers on the explosive fallout between Roy Keane and Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, which took place just before the 2002 World Cup. Éanna Hardwicke plays Keane, while Steve Coogan steps into the role of McCarthy. The story focuses on what happened at the team’s training camp on the island of Saipan, a place that has become a symbol of controversy in Irish sporting history.

Directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, known for Good Vibrations and Ordinary Love, are behind the project. The script was written by Paul Fraser, who has previously worked on Heartlands and A Room for Romeo Brass.

On Danny Boyle’s 11th birthday, he and his twin sister were given a special treat, when their parents took them to the movies for the first time. Boyle and his father saw the Henry Fonda war epic Battle of the Bulge, while Boyle’s sister and mother watched The Sound of Music, which a year earlier won best picture at the Oscars.

Boyle was hooked. But growing up in a working-class family near Manchester, England, no one could have guessed that five decades years later, he would boast his own best picture winning-movie, 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, and a kinetic style he has applied to dizzying number of genres, including drug-infused dark comedy (Trainspotting), zombie thriller (28 Days Later), true-life tale (Steve Jobs, 127 Hours) hard sci-fi (Sunshine), and feel-good musical (Yesterday), to name a few.

On Friday, the auteur returns to theaters with 28 Years Later, a $60 million sequel...

Peter Schmeichel emerges from the opening frames as a figure both familiar and elusive: a Copenhagen prospect whose raw talent would soon define an era at Old Trafford. Owen Davies traces his arc from local youth leagues to the heights of Premier League glory without losing sight of what drove him.

The film pairs electrifying match footage—Euro ’92 penalty saves, the ’99 treble heroics—with candid interviews that reveal the man behind the gloves. Davies interlaces these sequences with cultural touchstones—a nod to postwar family history, a classic film reference—that deepen our sense of stakes off the pitch.

Archival clips of teammates like Eric Cantona and Gary Neville add texture, while moments of unguarded honesty point to private struggles. The pacing moves fluidly between triumph and tension, avoiding drift into hagiography.

Schmeichel’s on-camera presence anchors the narrative. He narrates pivotal scenes with equal parts reflection and steel, inviting...

Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso is one of the most successful and popular sports drama series. Created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, the show follows Ted Lasso, who is hired to coach an English soccer team. The show initially concluded after three seasons, but back in March, Sudeikis, who stars as the titular character, confirmed that they are working on the fourth season of the show.

Ted Lasso set to return for Season 4 | Credits: Apple TV+

Upon release, the show received critical acclaim for its storyline, performances of the actors, humor, theme, and the way it included an uplifting tone to it. Over the seasons, the popularity of Ted Lasso has only increased, and it has attained the position of one of the most-watched series on Apple TV+. Everyone is thrilled about the fourth season; some fans believe that it seemed pretty forced, while some...

I remember when Ted Lasso first burst onto the scene, it was one of the best binge-watching sprees that I ever had. A heartfelt comedy about an American football coach who his stumbling his way through English Premier League Soccer became a cultural reset that no one expected.

Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso | Apple TV+

Even though I’m not a sports fan, I was deeply engrossed! I believe they struck gold with the first two seasons because it had sharp writing, emotional depth, and a lovable cast. But Season 3 was a bit of a mixed bag for everyone.

Ted Lasso season 3 somewhat lost its way, and fans noticed

With the longer episodes and scattered storylines, season 3 drifted the characters apart. The magic that once felt so effortless began to strain under the weight of ambition. It was a widely successful final season, but most would agree when I say it had some glaring issues.

Ted Lasso is a show that took the world by storm, as it had heartwarming storytelling and sharp humor, but its soul was characters that struck a chord. Among them is Roy Kent, a gruff, no-nonsense captain of AFC Richmond who became an instant fan favorite.

While many assume that he is modeled after Roy Keane, the truth is far more personal and involves Jason Sudeikis’ own life experiences. He’s a co-creator on the show and also plays the titular character, so it’s no surprise to see that Sudeikis has such an influence on the different personas in Ted Lasso.

Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein in Ted Lasso | Apple TV+

The struggles that Kent is depicted to have are the ones that hit too close to home for Sudeikis. So, is Roy Kent really a fictional counterpart of Keane, or is he more of a mirror to the man who helped create him?...

The first look of Éanna Hardwicke as Manchester United and Ireland soccer legend Roy Keane alongside Steve Coogan as his embattled Irish national manager Mick McCarthy, has been revealed from upcoming comedy biopic “Saipan.”

The film — first announced earlier in the year by Variety — chronicles one of the most infamous moments in Irish sporting history, when Keane and McCarthy had a very public falling out. Alongside Hardwicke and Coogan, the supporting cast includes Alice Lowe (“Sightseers”), Jamie Beamish (“Derry Girls”), Alex Murphy (“Young Offenders”), Harriet Cains (“Bridgerton”) and Peter McDonald (“The Batman”).

“Saipan” is being directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa — the duo behind “Good Vibrations” and “Ordinary Love” — — working from an original script by Paul Fraser (“Dead Man’s Shoes”). Bankside Films is handling sales and will be showing a promo to buyers at the American Film Market.

Described as a “true-life comedy of the most epic proportions,...

The Dublin author once caused outrage for writing about domestic abuse. As he publishes his third tale about his heroine Paula Spencer, he talks about optimism for his homeland, new Irish fiction – and the genius of Roy Keane

A couple of days before I’m due to meet Roddy Doyle in Dublin, I test positive for Covid which, although suboptimal, is at least in the spirit of his new book, The Women Behind the Door, the third in his series about Paula Spencer. The book opens with Paula putting on the kettle after enjoying “a great day” out with her pals in May 2021; a trip to the vaccination centre for the first jab of the pandemic, and a sense that, as Doyle puts it, we might be approaching “the beginning of the end”.

Doyle got his first shot at the same place, a repurposed conference centre on the Dublin City University campus in Glasnevin,...

UK arthouse cinema chain Curzon has said it is “business as usual” and expansion plans are ongoing despite an auction date being set for properties owned by Charles Cohen’s Cohen Realty Enterprises.

A New York State Supreme Court judge has set an auction date of November 8 for the sale of the company’s properties, which were put up as collateral for $534m in loans, and include UK cinema chain Curzon and the Landmark circuit in the US, as well as a hotel, office space and design centre.

Cohen acquired Landmark Theatres in 2018 and Curzon Cinemas, alongside distribution arm Curzon Artificial Eye,...

The British Film Institute (BFI) has issued a further 11 awards through the UK Global Screen Fund (Ukgsf), including Karim Aïnouz’s Rosebushpruning, Irish football story Saipan, starring Steve Coogan, and The Bureau-produced Moroccan co-production Behind The Palm Trees.

Rosebushpruning is the next feature from Brazilian director Aïnouz. It is a contemporary adaptation of Marco Bellocchio’s Fists In The Pocket, with Elle Fanning attached to star.

Producers are Kavac Film, The Match Factory and Surfilm, with CryBaby the minority UK producer on the project. Fremantle’s Italy-based The Apartment is on board as a co-producer, and Mubi is one of the backers.

Steve Coogan and Eanna Hardwicke are set to star in Saipan, about the infamous 2002 World Cup dispute between Ireland soccer manager Mick McCarthy and captain Roy Keane.

The project is scheduled to begin production in Ireland and Saipan later this summer.

It is directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, whose credits include Ordinary Love, from a script by Dead Man’s Shoes co-writer Paul Fraser.

It follows the relationship between the footballing star (Hardwicke) and manager (Coogan) during the buildup to the 2002 Japan World Cup, chronicling their infamous dispute which divided a nation.

The incident caused a huge controversy over who was to blame.

Steve Coogan has been set to take on the role of Ireland’s Football Manager Mick McCarthy in the upcoming movie ‘Saipan.’

Coogan is joined by BAFTA-nominated Cork native Éanna Hardwicke (Lakelands, The Sixth Commandment) who will play Ireland football captain Roy Keane.

The new film about the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign, the Saipan incident was a very public spat in May 2002 between the then Republic of Ireland national football team captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy when the team was preparing in Saipan, Japan for its 2002 FIFA World Cup. It resulted in Keane being sent home from the squad. The incident divided public opinion in Ireland and rumbles on to this day.

Also in news – Robert Downey Jr. & the Russo Brothers return to the MCU

Award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn are set to direct from an original script by Paul Fraser.

As the Olympic games commence this summer, Variety reports on a new upcoming film about an infamous world sports event. Comedy actor Steve Coogan is set to play former Ireland soccer manager Mick McCarthy along with the fast-rising and BAFTA-nominated Irish star Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment, Lakelands), who will be portraying Manchester United and Ireland soccer legend Roy Keane, in the Irish movie Saipan. McCarthy and Keane would suffer a public falling out and this conflict will be the focus of the film.

Saipan will be helmed by directing duo Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa. Leyburn and D’Sa have also worked together in the past on the critically acclaimed Irish comedy-drama Good Vibrations from 2013, as well as the romance Ordinary Love, which starred Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville from 2019. The duo will be directing from an original script by Paul Fraser, whose past work included the film Dead Man’s Shoes.

Tensions were running high as Ireland’s squad prepared for the 2002 World Cup on the tropical island of Saipan. But little did manager Mick McCarthy know the biggest challenge lay not in winning matches, but keeping peace between two of soccer’s fiercest competitors – Roy Keane and himself. BAFTA nominees Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke are set to bring these iconic figures’ volatile relationship to the big screen in the upcoming film “Saipan.”

Directed by the team behind acclaimed sports drama “Ordinary Love,” the movie chronicles that fateful week where the captain’s legendary temper came to a head with McCarthy’s no-nonsense management. As the island’s sweltering heat matched the rising temperatures between the strong-willed personalities, their confrontation spelled doom for Ireland’s World Cup dreams.

“A million words have been written analyzing what sparked such an explosive fallout,” noted producers John Keville and Macdara Kelleher. Details have remained scarce – until now.

Fast-rising and BAFTA-nominated Irish star Éanna Hardwicke is set to play Manchester United and Ireland soccer legend Roy Keane in upcoming Irish feature “Saipan,” Variety can reveal. Hardwicke will be joined by two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, who will star as Mick McCarthy, the former Ireland soccer manager with whom Keane had an infamous falling out.

“Saipan” is being directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa — the duo behind the critically-lauded 2013 Irish comedy-drama “Good Vibrations” and the 2019 romance “Ordinary Love,” starring Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville — working from an original script by Paul Fraser (“Dead Man’s Shoes”), with production set to start this summer.

The film’s title comes from the infamous so-called “Saipan Incident” in 2002, when Keane was captaining the Irish national side ahead of the FIFA World Cup finals in Japan. While preparing on the tiny island of Saipan, the soccer star — known for his hot-headed temperament...

Ventana Sur Heads To Uruguay

The 16th edition of LatAm market Ventana Sur is heading to Uruguay this year. Taking place between December 2 and 6 in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo, the market is backed by Canne’s Marché du Film and will see a wealth of players from the local industry and from abroad attend. The festival is a partnership between the Marché du Film, National Institute of Cinema, Audiovisual Arts of Argentina and Uruguayan Film & Audiovisual Agency. It is taking place in Uruguay for the first time. There were fears over its future earlier this year when Argentina President Javier Milei’s government threatened to cut funding. Since its inception in 2009, Ventana Sur said it has brought together more than 4,000 accredited participants annually, including more than 250 buyers and sellers from across five continents.

CAA Signs Gary Neville

CAA has signed British former soccer player and pundit Gary Neville. The U.

The European Football Cup tournament has got off to a cracking start – for broadcasters at least – with Friday evening’s opening match between host nation Germany and Scotland watched by an average of 5.8million viewers, with a peak of 9.8million.

The UK’s two main broadcasters ITV and BBC are sharing the spoils of the month-long competition, with Friday’s opening match being shown by ITV.

This primetime audience was a big jump on that for the opening match for the last Euros. When the BBC aired Turkey vs Italy in 2021 (Euro 2020 delayed by a year due to Covid), its average audience was 5.2m with a 6.9m peak.

While the ardent Scottish football fanbase will have significantly boosted Friday evening’s viewing figures, ITV’s smiles won’t reach Scotland today, still recovering from being on the wrong side of the biggest-ever win for the host in the European Championships...

Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) is one of the most fan-favorite characters on Ted Lasso, but would fans love his real-life counterpart, Roy Keane, equally? Yes, the AFC Richmond legend is, in fact, based on an actual footballer, as the Apple TV+ hit series is always borrowing from real life to build its own version of the footy world. Kent and Keane have a lot in common, from their harsh demeanor to their excellence on the pitch, and are both widely regarded as legends in their own right. Both of them also became coaches and TV pundits after retiring from the pitches, but the similarities go way beyond, though.

Cillian Murphy, the veteran actor known for working on projects like Peaky Blinders, Batman Begins, and, Oppenheimer, is all set for his Oscar nomination. Being an Irish actor, Murphy is extremely proud and yet, humbled, to receive a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Talking about the subject of fame, Murphy simply accepted that even if he did win the Oscar, he still wouldn’t be more famous than Irish football coach Roy Keane! The humbling sentences reminded people of Keanu Reeves as they root for their favorite actor to win his deserving Oscar.

Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer (2023) Cillian Murphy Claims He Won’t Be As Famous As Roy Keane

Former footballer and coach, Roy Keane had a tremendous career that spanned 19 major trophies, 17 of which included his time at Manchester United. Being named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players, Keane...

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house among the full cast and crew on the last day of filming Ted Lasso‘s season three. The shot was in the fictional Richmond Fc locker room before its championship game against rival West Ham — and before beloved coach Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis (who’s nominated for lead actor and writing in addition to comedy series), was scheduled to return to the U.S. Instead of his usual pep talk, Lasso introduces a video, looking back at the team’s growth. “The tears are real,” says Declan Lowney, who directed this episode and eight others during the three seasons of the 11-time Emmy-winning Apple TV+ series. (Its 10 noms this year include nods to most of the talent mentioned in this story.) Famously based on a 2013 NBC Sports promo, Sudeikis’ depiction of an American college football coach who moves to...

As the most popular current sports show on television, Ted Lasso real life players include several real-life footballers and soccer pundits. The Apple TV+ series follows American football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), hired to lead a soccer team in England, despite hardly knowing anything about the sport. Ted Lasso is far more about teamwork, mentoring, and personal growth than soccer itself, but the way the series includes real-life cultural references and struggles associated with the sport only grows its authenticity as an incredible sports tale. Keeping up with the accuracy of real-world football culture, Ted Lasso places its starring football team into the real-life English Premier League, albeit under the fictional guise of AFC Richmond.

The Ted Lasso football club's closest counterpart is Crystal Palace Fc, which still exists in the show’s universe. Many of the show’s AFC Richmond footballers are inspired by real soccer players, such...

Prime Video is training for 99, a documentary series about Manchester United’s historic treble-winning season in the late 1990s.

The iconic team featured the likes of David Beckham, Gary Neville and Roy Keane and won the Premier League, Fa Cup and UEFA Champions League across 10 pivotal days at the culmination of the 1998/99 season.

Amazon’s UK original documentary comes from Ventureland, Beckham’s Studio 99 and Neville’s Buzz16. After retiring, both Beckham and Neville have gone on to high-profile public careers — Beckham is the co-President of U.S. soccer team Inter Miami Cf and Neville is a well-respected pundit for Sky Sports. Both are co-owners of Salford City.

Ventureland’s John Battsek and Miles Coleman will produce the series. Executive Producers are Nicola Howson and David Gardner for Studio 99, Scott Melvin for Buzz 16 and Kerstin Emhoff for Ventureland. Sampson Collins, the Rts-winning director of Gazza, is directing the series.

The Ted Lasso AFC Richmond team might be a beleaguered franchise, but it is not an actual team in the Premier League. The Apple TV+ show, which stars Jason Sudeikis in the titular role, chronicles the travails of an American college football coach who is employed to manage a Premier League team in England. When he takes over at AFC Richmond, Lasso knows little about soccer and also faces an uphill battle with the team and the club owner, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), who secretly hired Ted to sabotage the club. Throughout season 1, Ted's earnest approach, kindness, and inspirational leadership in managing his team and building relationships win over his doubters but did not prevent Richmond from dropping out of the Premier League.

Ted Lasso draws on various real and well-known footballing tropes, from the aging veteran refusing to accept when his time at the top is over, to teammates competing...

Ted Lasso fans might not realize that Cristo Fernandez's Dani Rojas is based on a real player. Ted Lasso follows the titular American football coach (Jason Sudeikis) hired to manage a team in the English Premier League. Fans of the series and of soccer quickly drew some clear connections between the show and the actual footballing world. The combative Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) is a play on Manchester United's Roy Keane, Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) highlights aspects of many young football talents like Cristiano Ronaldo or Jack Grealish, and Lasso's club, AFC Richmond, compares directly to Crystal Palace, even filming most of the show in their stadium, Selhurst Park.

Rojas enters the show as one of Ted Lasso's players who joined the team at the start of the season, but suffered a knee injury before he was able to make an impression. When he finally recovers enough to play,...

The cast of Apple’s smash-hit sports comedy series Ted Lasso is full of high-profile actors playing hilarious characters. Based on a series of Premier League promos, Ted Lasso revolves around an American football coach who’s hired to work for an English soccer team. Unlike sitcoms that rely on visual jokes and non-sequitur gags, Ted Lasso’s humor is driven by its characters. From the zany comic personalities on the roster of AFC Richmond to the wide variety of demeanors behind the curtain on the coaching staff, Ted Lasso is full of unforgettable characters brought to life by terrific actors.

With a mix of both established stars like Saturday Night Live’s Jason Sudeikis and The Dark Knight Rises’ Juno Temple to up-and-coming performers who have been launched to fame by the series like Brett Goldstein and Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso is anchored by a solid ensemble cast. Ted...

eOne Making TV Adaptation Of Janice Hallet’s ‘The Twyford Code’

eOne is prepping an adaptation of Janice Hallett’s The Twyford Code – the first fruits of the studio’s deal with BAFTA-winning writer-director Paul Andrew Williams. The book is written via automatic transcriptions of recordings made by a former prisoner determined to discover what happened to his teacher. eOne will co-produce with former Sky Studios drama boss Cameron Roach’s Rope Ladder Fiction, with Williams directing and eOne handling global rights. “Janice Hallett’s ingenious second novel has rightly gained a fanbase of epic proportions,” said Sharon Hughff, eOne’s Creative Director, Scripted Television, UK. Deadline revealed eOne’s deal with Williams last year and the Broadchurch director is forging scripted TV shows for all platforms.

Gary Neville Takes ‘The Overlap On Tour’ For Sky Max

English footballer turned pundit Gary Neville is taking his YouTube series The Overlap...

Lorraine and This Morning will both be off of ITV’s schedules in the coming days as a result of the World Cup.

The international football tournament kicks off in Qatar on Sunday (20 November).

As Qatar is three hours ahead of the UK, some of the matches will occur in the morning and the early afternoon.

On Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 November, the channel’s morning schedules have been altered to accommodate for the matches.

Coverage from Qatar will begin at 9am and run until 12.30pm, followed by Loose Women in its usual position.

Ordinarily, Lorraine begins at 9am and This Morning at 10am. After Monday (21 November), the programmes will not air again until Friday (25 November), when the morning match will air on BBC instead.

Good Morning Britain, which airs on weekdays from 6am to 9am, is not affected and will be on screens as normal.

On Tuesday, ITV will air the Group C match,...

Stormzy admitted he was “a bit flustered” after appearing on live television to share his views about Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Monday night (22 August).

The British artist joined football pundits Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville after the match, telling the trio he was “starstruck”.

Dressed in a Manchester United top alongside his young nephews, who also wore team tracksuits, he waved at fans who recognised him from the stands.

“Sorry I'm a bit flustered right now,” he said, which made the former footballers laugh. “I've never met these guys before. We were just walking past and we were starstruck and someone gave me a mic and I'm up here like 'Mum, I made it'.

“This is sick though. Man's on telly with the boys.”

Asked by the Sky Sports team to offer his opinion of United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dropped from the starting line-up,...

How far can immaculate eyebrows and a whole host of talent get you in life? Well, if Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein is any indication, the answer is pretty freaking far!

When Ted Lasso first premiered on Apple TV+ in August 2020, it immediately made waves for having a deep bench of compelling supporting players to act opposite lead Jason Sudeikis. But with the utmost respect to Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, and everyone else in the AFC Richmond football team’s orbit, it was Brett Goldstein’s Roy Kent who jumped off the screen in particular.

Loosely inspired by the real life footballer Roy Keane, Roy Kent is a veteran at the tail end of his career whose gruff exterior (including multiple profanities and damn near monosyllabic speech patterns) neatly cover up a vibrant inner sensitivity. In embodying the surprisingly deep Kent, Goldstein won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting...

Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not seen “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” in theaters now.

When Benedict Wong was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016’s “Doctor Strange” as Wong, the titular superhero’s sidekick and fellow sorcerer, the British actor quickly became a fan favorite. Since, Wong has appeared in “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” the animated series “What If…?” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” But with sequel “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Wong steps into the spotlight as more than just Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) right-hand man, but the Sorcerer Supreme.

For Wong, who grew up a comic book fan, the evolution of his role is a dream come true. Below, Wong tells Variety all about playing the Sorcerer Supreme, how he got his acting start and why he wants to...

EA Sports FIFA players now have access to one of the most lethal strike-forces in football history, with the news that Diego Maradona, Pelé and Ronaldinho are teaming-up in a Soccer Aid World XI Fc team.

This is the first time ever that Maradona, Pelé and Ronaldinho will be playable from the start, in the same side, without the need for transfers.

Robbie Williams is set to play with the Soccer Aid World XI Fc in eSoccer Aid – an online competition on Saturday 27th June raising money to help stop the spread of coronavirus and limit the impact on children’s lives.

Unicef UK Ambassador and Soccer Aid for Unicef Co-Founder, Robbie Williams, said: "This is a unique and wonderful initiative to be part of because the Soccer Aid World XI Fc is needed more than ever before. We have been able to bring together some of the best players...

Mike Egerton/Empics Sport

The Premier League has always been known for its high intensity since its formation in 1992. No other league in Europe can offer the high-tempo of play that England’s top division can, and because of this it has attracted the cream of the crop of talent. With the best talent comes the biggest rivalries and the most passion, and inevitably, that often spills over.

The men in the middle have certainly had their hands full over the last 24 years in an attempt to keep the game as free-flowing as possible, but at times the big egos and rivalries that have formed have made it a near-impossible task. Consider trying to handle the latest round of Roy Keane versus Patrick Vieira to name just one.

While bone-crunching, eye-watering tackles a plenty over the years, fans have often had to look at replays through the gaps in their fingers,...

Scott Heppell/AP

Let’s face it – Sunderland aren’t renowned for being a well-oiled goal machine. The Premier League strugglers have been clinging on for dear life in recent seasons, and face another fight in the coming months to remain in England’s top flight.

In spite of their struggles, however, there have been a few bright moments on Wearside in recent years. We’ve witnessed the Peter Reid (sort of) glory years, the promotion push under Roy Keane, mid-table stability under Steve Bruce and the Capital One Cup final under Gus Poyet. Clutching at straws, you say? Not at all…

Sunderland fans love a cult hero, and they love a prolific goalscorer – they just rarely get one. Several players have threatened to step up to icon status during the Premier League era (many of them are in this piece), though less than a handful are now held in high regard by Sunderland fans.

Making its debut at last year’s Cork Film Festival, Dave Tynan’s exploration of the early life of Roy Keane, Rockmount, has gone onto win a host of awards, including best short at the Galway Film Fleadh and the IFTAs. Now, Tynan has released the full movie onto Youtube, giving us all a chance to get a glimpse at the childhood of one of Ireland’s most fascinating figures.

Joe Giddens/Empics Sport

Should Sunderland survive relegation this season (never a guarantee when the Black Cats are concerned), they will have played ten consecutive seasons in the Premier League. Their nine-year spell in the top flight has been a tumultuous, often terrible one, but still doesn’t feel too extensive.

For many on Wearside, the memory of Roy Keane saving the club from the Championship relegation zone and leading a charge to first place will seem like only yesterday.

But what became of these heroes? Crucial figures in the club’s modern history, relatively little is known about Tobias Hysen or Stern John, for example. Come to think of it, what’s Dwight Yorke up to? Is Nyron Nosworthy still battling away in the lower leagues?

Here’s a look at Roy Keane’s heroic 2006/07 promotion team. A few have retired, but many are playing out the twilight years...

Sky Sports may have just released its mightiest Premier League advert yet.

Pundit and ex-Arsenal player Thierry Henry previews the 2015/16 season, joined by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Eric Cantona as Henry revisits some of the greatest moments in the League's history.

Henry has imposed himself into scenes including glorious goal scoring and celebrations, a rather vocal Roy Keane arguing near the changing rooms and managers invading the pitch following wins.

Henry even runs alongside himself on the pitch - celebrating a win for Arsenal.

Some of the players featured include Rooney, Shearer and Cantona, alongside Steven Gerrard and Sergio Aguero.

Closing the advert, Henry watches Chelsea celebrate winning the competition and tells the viewer directly: "That is why this is the best league... in the world."

The Premier League kicks off on Saturday, August 8.

Jon Super/AP

Roy Keane has reportedly been offered the Newcastle United Head Coach’s job according to a source in Wales.

Not only that, Keane is said to be “hugely” interested in the role.

What on earth is going on?

Tim Pearson, a journalist from Wales, broke the news which as of yet has failed to have any more sources class it as credible. We don’t know who Tim writes for or how he obtained this information, so the chances are this is nothing more than a silly season rumour and a complete waste of your time.

Newcastle United are interested in speaking to Roy Keane regarding their managerial position. More to follow. #Nufc

— Tim Pearson (@TimPearsonMedia) May 27, 2015

Pearson would later go on to tweet: “The word is that the opportunity would ‘hugely interest’ Roy. Very interesting developments. #Nufc”

The former Sunderland manager hasn’t a full time...

Laurence Griffiths/Empics Sport

Roy Keane is best known for his full-blooded displays at the heart of the Manchester United midfield for over a decade, captaining the Red Devils to many a trophy.

Well, that and growing a ridiculously angry looking beard in recent times.

The man affectionately known by the Old Trafford faithful as simply Keano is just as known for holding up trophies as he is for his horror tackles and angry scowl. To describe Keane’s style as combative would be as much of an understatement as saying that he had a mild dislike for Mick McCarty.

Where Roy is concerned, nobody is off limits when it comes to feeling his wrath, and this includes his opponents, his own managers, his own team-mates, his own fans, the press, and pretty much anyone who happened to catch him on an off day It’s safe to say, Roy Keane...

Ever since we heard Roy Keane's thoughts on Gone Girl ("Rubbish. Absolute rubbish."), we've been consumed with wondering what celebrities think of all the latest movies. So we did some research. Here are some of the entertainment world's best and brightest on the films nominated for this year's Best Picture Oscar.

(Just make sure you read Arnie's tweets in his accent. Please. It makes them ten times funnier.)

American Sniper

American Sniper not Clint Eastwoods finest work for me. I did shed a tear for the story though. #ChrisKyle

— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) January 26, 2015

American Sniper was truly great. I should have learned by now to never let Clint surprise me, but I didn't expect to cry through the credits

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) December 22, 2014

Saw Two Days One Night. Long & boring & depressing. English sub titles, so u have to really concentrate. My fave movie American Sniper

— Jackie Collins (@jackiejcollins) January 25, 2015

Birdman...

The seemingly never-ending list of I'm a Celebrity rumours has been circulating for months - everyone from Roy Keane to Hulk Hogan - but this week some famous faces have actually started landing in Australia with only days to go before the kangaroo testicle-eating begins.

Perhaps they just happen to be on holiday in Australia at the same times as the TV show starts, but if it's not a coincidence, it looks like these 10 celebs are heading into the jungle camp.

1. Kendra Wilkinson

A former 'girlfriend' of Playboy's Hugh Hefner and a Us reality TV regular, Kendra is a mum-of-two and will be bringing some Hollywood glamour to camp.

2. Gemma Collins

There was always going to be a Towie representative, and it looks like it was Gemma "You ain't ever gonna get this candy" Collins who got the call this year.

3. Michael Buerk

Neatly timed for the return of Band Aid,...

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! may have to scrap its annual skydive - because of politicians at the G20 summit.

According to The Sun, show bosses are waiting to see whether the meeting of world leaders will scupper their parachute plans.

The summit in Brisbane, which is being held on November 15, is expected to be heavily protected by police and helicopter flights may be banned because of security fears.

The news means that I'm a Celebrity bosses are uncertain whether the celebrities will be allowed to skydive, and may not know until the day itself whether the parachuting can go ahead.

An ITV spokesperson told Digital Spy: "We've got contingency plans in place for every eventuality."

A start date for I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here has not yet been confirmed but stars including Vicky Pattison, Gemma Collins, Roy Keane and Tulisa have already been...

Roy Keane has confirmed that he has met with the producers of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.

The former Manchester United midfielder and current assistant manager at Aston Villa told Shortlist that he had initially rejected the approach.

Asked about a move into acting like Eric Cantona and Vinnie Jones, Keane said: "Well, I couldn't see it, but I am more open to stuff now. I've had the Celebrity Big Brother offers and the jungle stuff [I'm a Celebrity].

"I met the jungle people, but I thought, 'Nah, not for me'. But the more you say no, the more determined they are to get you, so who knows? There's more to life than football."

Quizzed on the last film he saw, Keane said: "Gone Girl. Rubbish. Absolute rubbish.

"I went with a couple of lads from the Irish team, but if I was on my own, honestly, I would've walked out.

It’s been another long week. A week where you’ve been leaping over buildings in a single bound, rescuing kittens from giant redwood trees and instagramming the hell out of that epic sandwich you had on Wednesday. Whatever the case, you were busy, and you might have missed out on some of the biggest movie stories of the week. So, here’s the roundup of what went down in the last few days. The first clip from the Roy Keane biopic Rockmount went online Disney announced Moana for 2016. An animated movie following the take of a teenager setting sail for a fabled island in the South Pacific Tom Hardy fans will explode all over the place with the latest clip from The Drop Sean Bean has signed on for Ridley Scott’s The Martian, where he finds himself stranded on Mars. He’ll probably die in the movie. James Wan...

Barrington Coombs/Empics Sport

He might never have pulled up too many trees at Newcastle in his years on Tyneside – and is mostly remembered for scoring after just 15 seconds of coming on against Sunderland, and also for the most horrific (and apparently intentional) miss for Sunderland against the Magpies – but Michael Chopra has his eyes on a big prize in the new Indian Super League.

The former Newcastle striker is currently playing for Kerala Blasters, and believes his experience of working under Roy Keane and Sir Bobby Robson means he would be a perfect candidate to follow in the footsteps of David James and Marco Materazzi, who are both currently player-managing clubs in the competition:

“Look at some of the managers I have worked under – the likes of Sir Bobby Robson and Roy Keane. Sir Bobby was one of the best managers in history. I learnt so much from him.

Already scooping the award for Best Short Drama at the Galway Film Fleadh, Rockmount, the upcoming short movie based on the early life of Roy Keane, will be talking a bow in the Cork International Film Festival in a short weeks. The first clip form the short, directed by Dave Tynan, has come online, featuring Craig Keane Harrington as the young Keane in a scene that shows his commitment to the game was there from a very young age. Rockmount is showing in the Cork International Film Festival as part of the Irish Shorts Programme 1, held on November 11th at 10 Pm.

Mike Egerton/Empics Sport

The list of things that Paul Merson has got wrong as a football pundit is worryingly long for someone who continues to be in full-time employment for an outlet as big as Sky Sports, but at least he’s consistently entertaining, which is more than can be said about Alan Shearer.

Hilariously, Merson is usually the go-to guy for Sky Sports’ weekly predictions column, despite the fact that his predictions are generally off the mark. This week, he has suggested that there is more disappointment coming for Newcastle United as Alan Pardew continues to look for his first league win this season: for Merson, it won’t be coming tomorrow.

Here’s his assessment, having predicted a 2-2 draw:

“This is one of those games where the Newcastle fans will turn up expecting to win. They drew their last game with Swansea, which was a bit...