Barry Keoghan Shares Insights on Ringo Starr and Embracing His Wild Side in ‘Butterfly Jam’ and ‘Batman Part II’
Barry Keoghan will make his return to the Cannes Film Festival alongside Riley Keough in Kantemir Balagov’s upcoming family drama, Butterfly Jam. Set within an East Coast Circassian community, the film explores the dynamics of familial relationships. Balagov, who garnered acclaim for his 2019 film Beanpole, is stepping into English-language filmmaking with this project, marking the first feature collaboration for Keoghan’s production company, Wolfcub Productions. Butterfly Jam is also slated to be the opening-night film for the Directors’ Fortnight segment.
During a brief break from his role as drummer Ringo Starr in a four-part cinematic exploration of The Beatles, Keoghan discussed the film but refrained from confirming speculations regarding his potential return as the Joker in The Batman: Part II.
Insight into Butterfly Jam
When asked about the film’s premise, Keoghan described it as a story centered on a Circassian family, featuring a father who is a chef and a son who is a wrestler. “It’s focused quite a lot on the relationship between the father and the son,” he said.
Keoghan confirmed that he portrays the father, adding humorously, “I’m stepping into those kinds of roles now. Crazy. Now I’m the dad.”
While Keoghan acknowledged the challenges of revealing too much without giving away plot details, he expressed enthusiasm for working with Balagov. He emphasized the cultural richness of the film, which unfolds in New Jersey yet carries a European cinematic essence. “It’s a proper sort of European movie set in New Jersey. And it’s gorgeous,” he remarked about the cinematography by Jomo Fray.
Despite admitting he lacks cooking skills, Keoghan highlighted the film’s focus on family traditions and cultural elements, including a dialect coach who helped the cast learn Circassian.
Talented Ensemble
Keough plays Keoghan’s sister in the film. He praised her raw energy, stating, “She has a kind of raw energy that you don’t know where she’s going, and it’s unpredictable.”
A production image reveals Keoghan and Keough sharing a moment of dance in the kitchen, a representation of their cultural immersion. “We were learning about the culture and learning to dance… It was actually incredible,” Keoghan shared.
Looking Ahead
Keoghan highlighted a thematic connection among his recent projects, noting a symbolic "animal theme" linking The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Bird, and now Butterfly Jam. He expressed excitement about the future of Wolfcub Productions, mentioning forthcoming projects, including a series with Netflix.
Reflecting on the approach to cultural portrayal, Keoghan indicated that the organic nature of the dance — not strictly choreographed — resonated with both the Circassian and Irish cultural expressions.
When asked about the film’s shooting locations, he confirmed that while the story is set in New Jersey’s Circassian enclaves, significant portions were filmed in France. “We filmed a lot there and then filmed the exteriors in New Jersey,” he explained.
Ultimately, Keoghan’s journey into independent filmmaking underscores his desire for vulnerability in performances. He articulated the comfort found in smaller productions, saying, “Without trying, it creates a safeness for you to be vulnerable… where you get really strong performances.”
Looking to the future, Keoghan reflected on his burgeoning directing aspirations while sharing insights from his experience on The Beatles film. “I’d love to direct a feature,” he concluded, signaling a potential new chapter in his career.
