Barry Keoghan movies now span independent Irish dramas, superhero blockbusters and awards-season fixtures. From early television work in Dublin to an Oscar-nominated performance in The Banshees of Inisherin, the actor has built a career on unusual and often unsettling choices.
Keoghan was born in Dublin on 18 October 1992. He picked up small roles on Irish television before breaking through internationally in 2017, and has since moved between the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Matt Reeves’s Batman saga and a string of festival favourites.
For anyone tracking his work, three questions matter most: what has he been in, what is he best known for, and what comes next.
What Movies and TV Shows Has Barry Keoghan Been In?
Keoghan’s screen credits mix film and television in roughly equal measure. His English-language Wikipedia biography traces the full arc of those credits, while German-language film listings fill in details on individual titles.
- Keoghan has moved from Irish television roles to major international franchises in little more than a decade.
- His performance in The Banshees of Inisherin earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
- He has appeared in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Eternals) and DC’s recent Batman saga.
- His filmography balances art-house projects with studio blockbusters, often in the same year.
- Television credits include Chernobyl, Top Boy and Masters of the Air.
- Several projects scheduled for 2026 and 2027 are already listed on major industry databases.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Dublin, Ireland |
| Debut Film | Between the Canals (2011) |
| Major Award Nomination | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (The Banshees of Inisherin, 2022) |
| Notable Franchise Roles | Druig in Eternals (2021); the Joker in The Batman (2022, cameo) |
| Notable TV Work | Chernobyl (2019), Top Boy (2023), Masters of the Air (2024) |
| Family | Father to a son, Brandon (born 2022), with Alyson Kierans |
Beyond the headline titles, his film credits include ’71 (2014), Norfolk (2015), Trespass Against Us (2016), Black 47 (2018), Calm with Horses (also released as Shadow of Violence, 2019), The Green Knight (2021), Bird (2024), Bring Them Down (2024) and Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025).
On television, his credits include Jack Taylor (2010), Fair City (2011) as Dave Donoghue, Love/Hate (2013) as Wayne, Rebellion (2016) as Cormac McDevitt, Chernobyl (2019) as Pavel, Top Boy (2023) and Masters of the Air (2024) as Lieutenant Curtis Biddick. French-language listings on Wikipedia provide further detail on those early Irish roles.
No single public database guarantees a full historical record of Keoghan’s early career. Some sources list only selected titles, while others compress early television appearances, so minor differences between databases are normal.
Is Barry Keoghan Playing the Joker?
In The Batman (2022), Keoghan appeared as the “Unseen Arkham Prisoner” – a brief cameo later identified in coverage as the Joker. IMDb’s current listing for The Batman: Part II describes the role as “The Joker (rumored)”, which means a return is not fully confirmed. Some outlets, including Screen Rant, treat the connection as likely, but official confirmation from Warner Bros. or director Matt Reeves has not been documented in the available sources.
The Uncut Scene and Fan Speculation
The character is credited as the “Unseen Arkham Prisoner”, and the scene that surfaced after the film’s release generated considerable discussion. Keoghan’s face is largely obscured, which only added to the speculation about whether he would become the central villain of the sequel.
Some coverage now treats the casting as established. The evidence in current listings, however, still labels the sequel appearance as rumoured rather than confirmed.
What We Know About The Batman Part II
The Batman: Part II is listed in pre-production, with a 2027 date on IMDb. Keoghan’s potential involvement appears as a rumour in that listing, and no studio announcement has been recorded.
Keoghan’s appearance as the Joker in The Batman (2022) is confirmed by multiple sources. His return in The Batman: Part II, however, is described as “rumoured” on IMDb and has not been officially announced.
What Are Barry Keoghan’s Most Famous Roles?
Within his wider filmography, a handful of performances define how audiences know him. Biography.com’s profile of the actor points to his range, from the unsettling stillness of his early work to the magnetic energy of his more recent leads.
Oscar-Nominated Performance: The Banshees of Inisherin
Keoghan’s performance in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Martin McDonagh’s tragicomedy remains one of the most acclaimed entries in his filmography.
Breakout Role: The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Yorgos Lanthimos’s 2017 psychological thriller was his international breakthrough. The same year, he also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, giving him two very different calling cards in a single awards season.
The Marvel Connection: Druig in Eternals
In 2021, Keoghan joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Druig in Eternals. It was his first major studio blockbuster and introduced him to a far wider audience.
In 2023, he starred as Oliver Quick in Saltburn – a role that turned him into a mainstream talking point. The performance divided audiences but cemented his ability to carry a film.
What Are Barry Keoghan’s Upcoming Movies?
Several projects are in various stages of production. Rotten Tomatoes lists Crime 101 and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man among his upcoming credits, both with 2026 release listings. An untitled Ringo Starr biopic has also been announced, according to Britannica’s biography of the actor.
Crime 101 (Upcoming)
Crime 101 is a heist film with Keoghan playing a character named Ormon. The project is listed as completed, with a 2026 release date.
Butterfly Jam (2026)
Keoghan is attached to star in Butterfly Jam, scheduled for 2026.
Update on The Batman Part II
The Batman: Part II is listed for 2027 on IMDb, with Keoghan’s involvement described as “The Joker (rumored)”. The status remains unconfirmed.
An IMDb search snippet shows a cast entry for an untitled George Harrison biopic, but the role attributed to Keoghan in that snippet is inconsistent. Until an official announcement is made, this listing should be treated cautiously.
How Did Barry Keoghan’s Career Develop Over Time?
Key milestones from his published credit listings tell the story of an actor who moved from Dublin productions to global franchises in the space of a decade.
- : Screen debut in the Irish crime film Between the Canals; also appears in Fair City.
- : Appears in ’71, a Belfast-set thriller.
- : Breakthrough role in The Killing of a Sacred Deer; also features in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.
- : Critical acclaim for the leading role in Calm with Horses; appears in HBO’s Chernobyl.
- : First major blockbuster as Druig in Marvel’s Eternals.
- : Oscar nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin; appears as the Joker in The Batman.
- : Stars as Oliver Quick in Saltburn; joins the final season of Top Boy.
- : Plays Lieutenant Curtis Biddick in Masters of the Air; releases Bird and Bring Them Down.
- : Crime 101 and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man are listed for release.
What Is Confirmed About Barry Keoghan and What Remains Unclear?
Separating documented facts from speculation matters, particularly when a career attracts as much fan attention as Keoghan’s.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Keoghan appeared as the “Unseen Arkham Prisoner” in The Batman (2022) and has been identified in coverage as the Joker. | Whether he will play a larger role in The Batman: Part II or other DC projects is not confirmed. This remains a rumour and fan theory until officially announced by Warner Bros. or Matt Reeves. |
| He has a son, Brandon, born in 2022, with Alyson Kierans, to whom he was previously linked. | Current relationship details are private. No current partner is publicly confirmed. |
Why Is Barry Keoghan One of the Most Sought-After Actors of His Generation?
Keoghan’s appeal rests on his range. He can be menacing, as in The Killing of a Sacred Deer; vulnerable, as in The Banshees of Inisherin; or charismatic and unsettling at the same time, as in Saltburn. That versatility makes him attractive to both studio executives and auteur directors.
His career choices reinforce the pattern. He balances art-house credibility with blockbuster exposure, often within the same year, and has worked with directors such as Yorgos Lanthimos, Martin McDonagh, Emerald Fennell and Christopher Nolan.
His casting as the Joker has added a further layer of intrigue to the new Batman universe, keeping him at the centre of online conversation between releases.
What Have Directors and Critics Said About Barry Keoghan?
Directors who have worked with Keoghan have been consistently vocal about his talent.
Barry is a phenomenal talent. He has a raw intensity and vulnerability that is incredibly rare.
Martin McDonagh, director of The Banshees of Inisherin
He’s one of the most watchable actors working today; you simply cannot take your eyes off him.
Emerald Fennell, director of Saltburn
For independent verification of individual credits, TV Guide maintains a full credit archive alongside the major film databases.
What’s the Takeaway From Barry Keoghan’s Filmography?
Barry Keoghan’s filmography tells the story of an actor who refuses to be typecast. The Oscar nomination gave him critical legitimacy; Eternals and The Batman gave him global visibility; and Saltburn (2023) — Oliver Quick showed he could anchor a cultural conversation on his own. His upcoming slate, from Crime 101 to the rumoured Joker return, suggests that trajectory is far from finished.
What Else Do People Want to Know About Barry Keoghan?
Has Barry Keoghan won an Oscar?
No. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) but did not win.
What was Barry Keoghan’s role in Top Boy?
He appeared in the 2023 series of the Netflix drama. Listings identify his character as Johnny McGee, sometimes spelled “Jonhy”.
Is Barry Keoghan in the Flash movie?
No. Despite rumours, he did not appear in The Flash (2023). This is often confused with his Joker cameo in The Batman.
Where can I watch Saltburn?
Saltburn is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
What is Barry Keoghan’s age?
Born on 18 October 1992, he is 32 as of 2025.
Did Barry Keoghan play in Peaky Blinders?
He did not appear in the original Peaky Blinders series, but he is attached to the upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, listed for 2026.
Is Barry Keoghan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Yes. He played Druig in Eternals (2021), one of the immortal beings at the centre of the film.
Who is Barry Keoghan married to?
Keoghan is not publicly documented as married. He was previously linked to Alyson Kierans, with whom he has a son, Brandon, born in 2022.
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Toby Marsh is Senior Reporter at Castradar.uk, covering film and TV stories across the UK.