Mickey Rourke planning biopic of gay rugby star Gareth Thomas
Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke is hoping to make a film of the life of gay Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas.
The rugby fan reportedly wants to play Thomas in the film and got the idea after reading about the Crusaders player coming out late last year.
Thomas’ spokesperson said: “Mickey Rourke is a big rugby fan and was flying to New York from London recently when he read an article about Gareth and thought he would be the perfect model for a film.
“Mickey contacted Gareth by a mutual friend in rugby league to express his interest and invited Gareth to watch the Jonathan Ross show and meet him for dinner afterwards.
“The fact that Mickey is so passionate about doing a picture has been really flattering and although we haven’t come to an agreement yet we’re really hoping it does happen.”
Rourke, 57, is understood to have been wanting to make a rugby-themed film for some time.
A veteran Hollywood star, he made his comeback in The Wrestler in 2008, for which he won an Oscar nomination.
He was criticised last year for calling a reporter a “faggot”. Despite being attacked by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, he refused to apologise for using the homophobic slur and later said: “I don’t really give a f**k. Life’s too short.