Barry Keoghan lands next lead movie role
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Saltburn star Barry Keoghan has lined up his next major film role. Keoghan has joined the cast of Iraq War movie Amo Saddam, a project that reunites him with Chernobyl director Johan Renck (via The Hollywood Reporter).
He will be playing one of the American soldiers who guarded former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in a palace-turned-prison while the dictator was on trial for crimes against humanity.
The film is based on the book The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid, about the 12 real soldiers who grew close to Saddam before his execution.
Related: Barry Keoghan's best movie is not Saltburn
Producer Michael Parets said of Keoghan's casting: "Barry has proven himself time and time again to be an actor who is so adept at playing really complex characters and we couldn't be happier having him as our lead for what is going to be a challenging, ambitious and hopefully really special film."
The production team are still looking for an actor to play Saddam Hussein, but are hoping to find someone from the region who speaks Arabic.
Renck has said he hopes the film will evoke the Iraq War "in a really immersive, authentic way" without using the "typical tropes of a war movie".
Keoghan is in contention for a BAFTA Film Award this week in the Best Actor category for Saltburn, after winning the Best Supporting Actor prize last year for The Banshees of Inisherin.
Related: Barry Keoghan explains what "freaks" him out about Saltburn's home release
He is currently starring in Apple TV+'s Masters of the Air, and will next appear with Christopher Abbott in the thriller film Bring Them Down.
On the horizon for Keoghan is the drama Bird, which will have its premiere in a few weeks at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. The film is shrouded in mystery but we know it will also feature Franz Rogowski (The Way of the Wind).
Amo Saddam is scheduled to begin production this autumn.
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