Yahoo Lifestyle Barry Keoghan Talks ‘Bird,’ Emerald Fennell and Whether He’ll Reprise the Joker in ‘The Batman Part II’
Barry Keoghan didn’t miss a chance to promote his young “Bird” co-star Nykiya Adams during an interview at the Variety Studio, sponsored by J.Crew and SharkNinja, during the Toronto Film Festival.
“Didn’t you say Marvel called you?” he joked.
More from Variety
“No,” Adams laughs. “But I love Spider-Man, and I’d love to be in something like that,” Adams said.
“We could do it together,” Keoghan responded.
The conversation naturally turned to Keoghan’s own comic book role as the Joker, which he played in Matt Reeves’ 2022 tentpole “The Batman.” Fans are eager for news about Reeves’ upcoming sequel, set for release in 2026. “There we go!” he said when asked about returning to the role, covering his mouth. “I can’t say much. The camera is looking right at me. We’ll see where that goes. Again, it was an incredible experience … and yeah, I can’t say…”
Written and directed by Andrea Arnold, Bird stars Keoghan as Bug, a tattoo-covered young father living by the British seaside who struggles to devote time to his two children, including his daughter Bailey (Adams), a lonely 12-year-old on the cusp of puberty and seeking adventures elsewhere. Franz Rogowski plays Bird, an eccentric outsider who suddenly enters Bailey’s life.
Keoghan recently earned his first Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for his role as the abused son of a police officer in Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin.” He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his turn as a psychotically obsessed college student in Emerald Fennell’s thriller “Saltburn.” Plus, he ventured into the world of music videos with Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please,” which features Keoghan playing a smitten, fist-fighting criminal. Next, he’s set for Netflix’s “Peaky Blinders” movie alongside Cillian Murphy.
Known for his strong connections with directors, Keoghan doesn’t always need a script to sign on to a project. Arnold and Fennell are two filmmakers he’s willing to work with at the drop of a hat. When asked if he’s interested in joining Fennell’s teased “Wuthering Heights” adaptation, Keoghan said, “Of course! … Anything that Emerald puts her hands on, I’m there. She’s incredible.”
To add even more to his resume, Keoghan has another film screening at TIFF — Christopher Andrews’ “Bring Them Down,” which stars Colm Meaney and Christopher Abbott. “That’s one I did read the script for,” he quipped.
Keoghan and the “Bird” cast didn’t fully know what the film was about until its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. “Andrea [Arnold] kept it from us,” he said. “She only gave us our scenes and our own storylines. So when we saw it for the first time, I was like, ‘Wow, this is a good film.’”
Adams, who has been quietly making her presence felt during the press tour following the Cannes premiere, spoke about the lessons she learned from her co-star. “Don’t look at the little things,” she said of Keoghan’s advice. “Live life to the fullest. Whatever happens, always take it in stride.”
“Bird” is distributed by Mubi and is set to open in the U.S. on Nov. 8.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
