Irish film "punching above its weight" with early Oscar buzz

According to Ladbrokes, "The Cut" is receiving early shouts from punters after its debut at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival last September.

The film sees "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Lord of the Rings" star Orlando Bloom play an Irish boxer who’s been asked to return to the pro circuit after 10 years away for an illustrious bout in Las Vegas.

In preparation to vie for his championship title, he embarks on a gruelling and unsanctioned weight cut program with a coach who knows no limits, alienating himself from reality and loved ones, as he spirals out of control.

"The Cut" also stars Catriona Balfe (who is best known for her roles in the likes of Kenneth Branagh’s "Belfast" and the series "Outlander"), John Turturro of "The Batman" and "Severance" fame, and Claire Dunne, who appeared in the hit RTÉ series "Kin".

Punters have been placing bets on "The Cut" as an Oscar contender for the 2026 awards, with the odds being in its favour at the moment, set at 5/1.

Speaking on the bets, Ladbrokes’ Cal Gildart said: "'The Cut' is punching above its weight despite its release date yet to be set for cinema goers.

"Irish boxing has produced an awards darling before thanks to Daniel Day-Lewis’ 'The Boxer', and fans think this can replicate that success."

While "The Cut" doesn’t have a release date as of yet, with this kind of buzz about it, we’d be surprised if it doesn’t reach our shores soon.

It’s not the first time Bloom has played a boxer, with one of his earliest roles being "The Calcium Kid", and he was also in Ireland recently shooting a new movie; Werner Herzog’s new feature "Bucking Fastard".

In fact, he even celebrated Mother’s Day with his mum on our shores, taking a photo outside the Baggott Street eatery Bloom to mark the occasion.

"Bucking Fastard" tells the true story of twin sisters Joan and Jean, played by real sisters Kate and Rooney Mara, who live on the fringes of society and marks the first time the pair have worked together on screen.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.