If you’re worried that Conor McGregor is going to play Popeye the Sailor Man in an upcoming adaptation, don’t get too worked up; it’s almost certainly not happening. Conor McGregor, a champion UFC fighter, the surprisingly entertaining villain of a surprisingly entertaining Road House remake, and a man who recently announced his interest in running for Irish president despite being found liable in civil court for raping a Dublin woman, is a cultural icon who has been celebrated and criticized fiercely in his professional career (via IrishIndependent).
Naturally, any news about McGregor is sure to attract a lot of attention, so when it seemed that he would be starring in an upcoming Popeye adaptation, the internet was set abuzz. There have been plenty of rumors about notable actors playing Popeye, a cartoon character from the 1930s who has remained a critical figure in comics, animation, and movies ever since. He’s only been played in live-action one time, however, by the late, great Robin Williams. It’s a legacy that few will be able to live up to, even if they are a world-renowned fighter.
The Conor McGregor Popeye The Sailor Man Trailer Is Fake
KH Studio Is A YouTube Channel That Makes Fake Trailers
A Popeye the Sailor trailer dropped on April 7, 2024, from the YouTube account, KH Studio, which is a “concept trailer” website, which is another way of saying the account makes fake trailers. The account is not shy about this, however, and is very clear about its trailer just being for fun. It’s when these trailers start getting reposted without context that people begin to think they’re real. This trailer uses AI-generated images of what look like scenes of Diane Lane in The Perfect Storm, with clearly AI-created scenes of Conor McGregor as Popeye.
Like a lot of AI-created videos, there’s an odd waviness to everything and a lack of direction, but McGregor does indeed look like he’s Popeye. The trailer also says that the movie will be directed by Taika Waiтιтi. With so many live-action remakes of classic animated movies, it’s not entirely unbelievable that there would be a Popeye live-action film; in fact, there is a live-action Popeye movie currently in production, allegedly at least. Maybe McGregor will appear in that film, anyone could, but it’s probably not going to look like this trailer.
Conor McGregor’s Acting Future Explained
McGregor Wants To Be President Of Ireland
Conor McGregor’s acting career only recently began with his debut performance in the 2024 Road House remake, where he stars as the main villain Knox, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal’s Dalton. It’s a performance you would expect from a swaggering UFC fighter with no acting experience. He’s big, and he’s ridiculous, but he does work in the movie, and he obviously fits right in with the fighting sequences. It’s not the most explosive debut an actor has had, but it does show he has enough chops to continue down the acting road if he wants.
McGregor has wavered on what’s next for his acting career, at one point saying he was “unlikely” to continue acting again (via Independent). However, soon after, he told TMZ when asked if he would continue pursuing acting, “of course!” McGregor does not have anything lined up at the moment, and if he does decide to seriously pursue politics, Conor McGregor won’t have time for Popeye the Sailor Man, particularly as he would need to fight a very uphill battle to have a chance, requiring significant time and effort (via SkyNews).
