Mickey Rourke to star in biopic of gay Rugby player

[HMG] – In his peerless career of screen-chewing evil, Mickey Rourke has been a hit-man for the Mafia, a Russian super-villain, a Wall Street financier with a Viagra fixation, and even a wrestler. And now he wants to become a gay rugby player.

Mickey, 57, who scored an Oscar-nomination for ‘The Wrestler’ in 2008 is huge fan of rugby, and during a recent flight from London to New York he read about Gareth Thomas — a welsh rugby full-back who stunned the sports world when he ‘came out’ last December.

“Mickey read the article about Gareth and thought he’d be the perfect model for a film,” Thomas’ rep, Emmanuele Palladino told the Sun. “So he contacted Gareth via a mutual friend and invited him to meet for dinner.”

The dinner occurred and the two men and their agents are now working out details to produce a draft script.

‘The fact that the talent himself called and showed an interest in his story was very flattering – and surprising.” says Palladino.

For those not too sure, rugby is like a European version of American Football – but with no helmets or padding.

Gareth, 35, is not only his nation’s most-capped international player, but also the only professional athlete currently in a team sport who is openly gay. Gareth, however, is not focused on that;

“I don’t want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player, but first and foremost I’m a man. What I choose to do at home has nothing to do with what I’ve achieved in rugby.”

And the last word goes to Gareth’s clearly fired-up rep;

“The fact that Mickey is so passionate about doing a picture is great,” Palladino explains. “And although we haven’t come to an agreement yet we’re really hoping it does happen. Now it’s time for their two managers to sort it out.”

And if they do, whether the result is a turkey or triumph you can bet it will be one of the most talked-about moviesin years.

Watch this space…