Irish actor Barry Keoghan made his mark on Hollywood, and he is staying booked and busy, with his name attached to several upcoming film projects. Keoghan’s latest big titles, like Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin, have cemented his status as a rising star. Keoghan first rose to international prominence for his roles as George Mills in Christopher Nolan’s historical thriller Dunkirk and Martin Lang in Yorgos Lanthimos’ psychological horror film The Killing of a Sacred Deer. His Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut as Druig in Eternals propelled Keoghan to further stardom, despite the mixed responses to Eternals.
With a BAFTA Award under his belt and Golden Globes and Oscar nominations, Keoghan has also received critical acclaim for his acting. He also joined the cast of Bird and was nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the British Independent Film Awards in 2024. From blockbuster superhero movies like Eternals and The Batman to psychological thrillers like Saltburn and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Keoghan has showcased his acting prowess and proven himself as a versatile actor. And Keoghan is set to impress audiences and critics alike with his upcoming movies, which include everything from thrillers to biographical films.
7
Bring Them Down
Release Date: February 7, 2025
Bring Them Down is a thriller film starring Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan as members of two Irish shepherding families who are locked in a rivalry. It chronicles the shocking chain of events that unfolds after mutilated sheep are found. Michael (Abbott) isolates himself after being burdened by a secret, but the drastic escalation of his conflict with the rival farmer, Gary (Paul Ready), and his son, Jack (Keoghan), forces him to take action and confront the tragic past that altered both families.
Keoghan’s role as Oliver Quick in Saltburn suggests he will excel in his portrayal of the dark, dangerous, and revenge-driven son.
Based on the Bring Them Down trailer and reviews, the movie will showcase a darker side of Keoghan’s acting, similar to Saltburn. The gritty revenge thriller will examine themes of rage, tragedy, and generational trauma and highlight their impact on the lead characters. Bring Them Down is set to be a bloody and violent affair filled with drama and secrets, and Keoghan’s role as Oliver Quick in Saltburn suggests he will excel in his portrayal of the dark, dangerous, and revenge-driven son.
Reviews of Bring Them Down praise Abbott’s and Keoghan’s performances, and they promise a poignant exploration of generational trauma and a thrilling journey. Bring Them Down premiered on September 8, 2024 at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in theaters on February 7, 2025.
6
Hurry Up Tomorrow
Release Date: May 16, 2025
The upcoming psychological thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow is based on Abel Tesfaye’s (also known as The Weeknd) studio album of the same name, and it’s loosely inspired by his career as a musician. Directed by Trey Edward Shults and starring Tesfaye as a fictionalized version of himself, Hurry Up Tomorrow will also feature Keoghan and Jenna Ortega in supporting roles. The film follows an artist struggling with insomnia (Tesfaye) and his surreal journey with a stranger (Ortega), who ends up peeling back the layers of the artist’s identity.
Hurry Up Tomorrow’s trailer, released on February 4, shows snippets of Tesfaye as the fictionalized version of himself performing on stage, as well as glimpses of Ortega as Anima and Keoghan as Lee. One of the clips of Keoghan’s character sees him encouraging Tesfaye’s musician and telling him that he’s “invincible,” while another scene shows Lee watching as Tesfaye unravels and breaks a mirror.
Hurry Up Tomorrow will need a compelling story and writing to properly utilize Ortega and Keoghan’s talents and make the film a hit.
The musical and surreal odyssey through The Weeknd’s mind, Hurry Up Tomorrow is set to be released on May 16, 2025. Tesfaye’s previous venture, the TV show The Idol, also featured an impressive cast. However, it was met with negative criticism and canceled two months after it aired. Hurry Up Tomorrow will need a compelling story and writing to properly utilize Ortega and Keoghan’s talents and make the film a hit.
5
Crime 101
Release Date: TBA
The aptly titled Crime 101 is an upcoming crime film starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Halle Barry, and Monica Barbaro. Directed by Bart Layton, the movie is an adaption of Don Winslow’s novella of the same name. Crime 101 follows Detective Lou Lubesnick, played by Ruffalo, as he hunts down the perpetrator behind a series of jewel heists. Meanwhile, master criminal Davis — played by Hemsworth — is attempting a perfect final heist.
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Bart Layton made his directorial debut in 2012 with the documentary film The Imposter and won a BAFTA for it. Layton’s next movie was the docudrama heist movie American Animals in 2018, and Crime 101 marks Layton’s return to film after more than six years. Crime 101’s principal photography began in October 2024, and the heist movie is expected in 2025. However, a release date has not yet been confirmed. There is also no trailer for Crime 101, and only Hemsworth’s and Ruffalo’s roles have been revealed. It’s unclear what role Keoghan will play as of this writing.
4
The Immortal Man
Release Date: TBA
The Immortal Man: A Peaky Blinders Film is the much-anticipated continuation of the critically acclaimed British crime drama series Peaky Blinders. The movie will be directed by Tom Harper and written by Steven Knight, and it will see actors Cillian Murphy, Sophie Rundle, Stephen Graham, Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee, and Ian Peck reprise their roles from the original series. The ensemble cast led by Murphy will be joined by newcomers Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson, Jay Lycurgo, and Tim Roth.
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The Immortal Man will mark Murphy and Keoghan’s second collaboration, as the two stars appeared in the critically acclaimed historical war film Dunkirk in 2017. The Immortal Man’s principal photography began on September 30, 2024 and wrapped up on December 13, 2024. The Peaky Blinders continuation film is expected to come out in late 2025 or 2026, but no release date has been confirmed yet.
It seems certain the actor will be a perfect fit for the dangerous criminal world of Peaky Blinders.
The Peaky Blinders movie’s set photo of Keoghan dressed in period clothing alongside Murphy indicates that Keoghan might be joining the Peaky Blinders universe as Thomas Shelby’s (Murphy) latest recruit. However, no concrete information has been released about Keoghan’s role. Considering Keoghan’s stellar track record for acting in historical dramas — and his previous collaboration with Murphy — it seems certain the actor will be a perfect fit for the dangerous criminal world of Peaky Blinders.
3
Amo Saddam
Release Date: TBA
Barry Keoghan will star in the upcoming film Amo Saddam, which will be directed by Johan Renck, best known for his Emmy-winning work on the hit series Chernobyl. The film Amo Saddam will be based on the book The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid by Will Bardenwerper. The book examines the experiences of the 12 United States soldiers who guarded the Iraqi dictator Hussein for months before he was executed. Keoghan will play the role of one of the U.S. soldiers guarding Hussein.
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Director Renck will be joined by the author of the book, Bardenwerper, who will serve as executive producer. Additionally, author and screenwriter Darby Kealy will adapt the book for the screen. Amo Saddam will mark Renck’s and Keoghan’s second collaboration, as the two previously worked together in Chernobyl. Co-producer Michael Parets stated that Keoghan has proven to be an actor capable of portraying complex characters and expressed that the team behind Amo Saddam was happy to have him as a lead (via The Hollywood Reporter).
2
The Beatles Biopic Film Series
Release Date: 2027
Keoghan will allegedly portray the iconic drummer for The Beatles, Sir Richard Starkey — best known as Ringo Starr — in Sam Mendes’ four upcoming biopics. The Beatles’ rise to fame will be examined in the upcoming biopic film series, with each movie telling the story from the perspective of a different band member.
Keoghan’s versatility suggests that the skilled actor will be able to accurately portray Ringo in the upcoming biopics.
In November 2024, Ringo Starr seemingly confirmed that Keoghan would portray him in the film series. Starr added that he believed Keoghan was taking drum lessons in preparation for the role. The other three Beatles haven’t been cast yet. However, rumors that Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn will be cast as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon continue to thrive. The Beatles biopic films are set to be released in 2027. Keoghan’s versatility suggests that the skilled actor will be able to accurately portray Ringo in the upcoming biopics.
1
The Batman – Part II (Unconfirmed)
Release Date: October 1, 2027
Keoghan appeared in The Batman reboot as an Arkham Prisoner who was later confirmed to be the Joker, setting up an interesting antagonist for the sequel movie. After the success of the Joker in The Dark Knight Trilogy, Batman fans are eager to see the character again in DC’s new series. However, the late Heath Ledger’s performance leaves big shoes to fill. And with Colin Farrell reprising his role as Oz Cobb/The Penguin in The Batman – Part II, it’s not clear if Batman’s arch-nemesis, the Joker, is the main antagonist in the upcoming sequel.
There is still a chance that the actor will reprise his role in another cameo experience and lay the groundwork for future Joker appearances in the reboot.
While Keoghan’s cameo as the Joker’s appearing alongside the Riddler (Paul Dano) implied that the Clown Prince of Crime would play a larger role in the sequel, Keoghan’s Joker has not been confirmed to feature in The Batman – Part II. However, there is still a chance that the actor will reprise his role in another cameo experience and lay the groundwork for future Joker appearances in the reboot. After all, Keoghan confirmed he’d be interested in reprising the role if asked.
The deleted scene of Batman going to Arkham Asylum and questioning the Joker about the Riddler’s schemes created buzz for future films, and it offers further hope that Keoghan will reprise his role as the Joker in The Batman – Part II. But whether or not the actor appears in The Batman – Part II, there is still an abundance of upcoming films starring Barry Keoghan to look forward to. They’ll give fans of the actor their fill until The Batman‘s sequel arrives in 2027, hopefully cementing him as a major player in the series of DC films.