A recent Popeye the Sailor Man trailer has gotten fans excited. The said clip sees former UFC champion Conor McGregor embody the fictional seaman, with Margot Robbie playing the role of his love interest, Olive Oyl. However, the concerned audience has raised questions regarding the authenticity of the preview due to multiple reasons.
Is Conor McGregor really going to play Popeye in a movie? Here is the truth about the trailer that has been making rounds of late.
Is the new Popeye The Sailor Man trailer real or fake?
The trailer is completely fake and has leveraged artificial intelligence to portray Conor McGregor as the beloved sailor. You can watch the said video clip below:
Aside from the promo in question, several other fan-made trailers have made their way on the internet due to the increasing buzz around a big screen adaptation of Popeye. This frenzy comes following a March 2024 article from Variety that stated that Chernin Entertainment and King Features are collaborating to produce a live-action movie centered around the escapades of the spinach-munching sea explorer.
According to the same report, the project is currently in the development stage and has roped in Michael Caleo, who’s known for his work on The Sopranos, as its screenwriter. Nevertheless, not much is known about this upcoming film and the producers are reportedly in search of a studio partner.
Will Conor McGregor and Margot Robbie appear in a Popeye The Sailor Man movie?
While the viral trailer shows multiple snippets of Conor McGregor rocking the sailor persona, there are no official reports that confirm his or Margot Robbie’s involvement in the project.
Moreover, this speculation seems to be farther from the truth considering McGregor’s experience with acting. The Irish mixed martial artist played a supporting role in Jake Gyllenhaal’s Road House remake earlier this year. However, he told The Independent that he might not proceed with his acting career due to the “intense” filming schedule.
Apart from Conor McGregor and Margot Robbie, the trailer also includes Dave Bautista, seemingly carrying the mantle of Popeye’s arch-nemesis, Bluto. However, the trailer is completely fake, as the producers have yet to reveal any details about the cast. Consequently, Conor McGregor and Margot Robbie are not associated with the Popeye project at the time of this writing.
