Gareth Thomas: Not Coming To A Screen Near You

WHEN Welsh rugby ace GARETH THOMAS said filmmakers could tell his life story, he’d never have guessed he’d end up on screen as an Irishman named Mick.

But Hollywood bosses have incredibly moved the story of Gareth’s brave decision to come out as gay across the water and named the film Irish Thunder.

I’m told all mention of Gareth has been removed and lead star MICKEY ROURKE, who has spoken to Gareth about the role for over three years, will instead play Mick ‘The Blade’ Collins.

Action has been shifted to Ireland over fears Americans don’t know where Wales is — and to cash in on the huge Irish population stateside.

MILLA JOVOVICH, RAY WINSTONE,VINNIE JONES and ANGELINA JOLIE’s dad JON VOIGHT will also appear alongside The Wrestler star.

A film insider said: “Gareth was upset after being cut out, but hopes the story raises awareness of how hard it is for gay sportsman to come out.

“Mickey and Gareth are great mates and this has been a real labour of love for both of them. The film is very much inspired by Gareth’s story but a lot has now been changed and action has been moved to Ireland.

“Nobody in America really understands rugby and there are fears they wouldn’t know much about Wales either.

“The film is likely to start shooting later this year and Mickey has been taking the training very seriously.” ...

The Sun.

Fagburn still has serious doubts this film - first touted five years ago - will ever see the light of day. 

Gareth Thomas: Proud

In a frank interview with the Times Magazine, the former British Lions and Wales skipper, who is set to release his second memoir, Proud, later this month, opened up about the years of torment he felt while lying to his loyal wife Jemma, the lengths he went to to keep his sexuality a secret, and how he his now finally content as an openly gay man.

* Dressed in a WRU-issued suit, he took to the pool of his home in Toulouse, armed with vodka and pills in one of a “handful” of attempts to kill himself on the night devastated Jemma finally left him;

* He fought hard to fight his gay urges after his first sexual encounter while working as a postman in Bridgend as a teenager left him “disgusted”;

* He used away games and fake stag weekends as elaborate cover stories while picking up men in London’s gay scene;

* Diver Tom Daly turned to him before coming out publicly himself;

* He’s now in a settled relationship with “his first and only gay love”, whom he met online.

It’s five years since 40-year-old Thomas – nicknamed Alfie – revealed to an already-suspicious public that he was in fact gay and had been living a lie throughout his decorated career.

The Sunday Mirror gives its lucky readers the thrilling highlights from Gareth's Times' interview.

Thus saving us all the trouble of reading it - and indeed of reading his new book.

Strangely Mr Thomas has stopped talking about the film Mickey Rourke was (not) making about him.

Daily Telegraph.

No, not really. But thanks for asking.

Competition Time: Spot The Difference!

Dark Knight Rises star Tom Hardy will play Sir Elton John in a biopic of the singer's life called Rocketman, it has been announced...
It follows Reginald Dwight's journey from childhood piano prodigy to global superstar, under his stage name Elton John...

BBC News.

The similarity is uncanny, isn't it?

PS I'm presuming this is more likely to happen than all those "Exclusive: Mickey Rourke to play Freddie Mercury In 50 Shades Of Grey!" or whatever fairy stories.

Dominic Cooper: History (Boy) Repeating

The Sun, like many papers, are reporting that Dominic Cooper is now tipped to play Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic!
Remember last month when so much media fell for a made-up story in The Daily Star quoting an "anonymous" source saying Daniel Radccliffe was going to play Freddie?
Oh, except for Fagburn.
Then Daniel told Empire it was complete bollards. 
Well, luckily there's no need to worry about this rumour.
It comes from an "exclusive" in a blog called Latina Review!
"According to a trusted source, the “rumor” is that Dominic Cooper is now circling the project."

So that's alright, then.

PS And whatever happened to that film with Mickey Rourke playing ruggger bugger Gareth Thomas...

Elton John: It's A Little Bit Funny...

The Independent.

The small print according to HitFix, who broke the story, is that Rocketman is still only "in development" - ie it might not actually be made - and though apparently "the project is out to Tom Hardy. That doesn't mean they've made him a formal offer yet, or even that he's interested, but it's an intriguing possibility."
It certainly is. 
And a great way of generating a buzz, too...

PS Funny how you never hear about that Mickey Rourke/Gareth Thomas biopic anymore, eh?

PPS 20 of our favourite staight actors who've played gay roles - BuzzFeed/CNN.com. So brave etc etc.

Gareth Thomas: A Bang On The Head

"I was talking to Mickey yesterday and basically we're now talking to other big-name actors who could play the part instead.
"We had talked about using computer-generated special effects with Mickey but we don't think that will be as realistic, so it's time to find someone new."

Gareth Thomas quoted in The Sun (HRNK! Warning!!! May not be true alert! etc) on how Mickey Rourke has apparently pulled out of playing "the gay Welsh rugby star" in a biopic.
A film project that Fagburn has always suspected only exists in Mickey Rourke and Gareth Thomas's ever so slightly delusional heads.
Anyone heard what studio has signed it?
One is reminded of Peter Cook's retort to someone who told him they were writing a novel; "That's funny, neither am I."

Update: So it looks like this was made up. Gosh whodathunk it?

Gareth Thomas: Rugby Balls

"HOLLYWOOD hardman MICKEY ROURKE is set for his most unusual role yet - playing gay British rugby star GARETH THOMAS in a film of his life," The Sun - who are clearly having trouble with their CAPS LOCK key - reveals today.
"The actor decided Thomas would be the "perfect model" for a movie after reading a report about him "coming out".
"The two met for dinner last week after Rourke had been a guest on JONATHAN ROSS's last BBC chat show."
Really?
Reading on, you find out that such a film has not been commissioned, or even written, so I wouldn't book your tickets just yet.
Still even though this film will almost certainly never exist outside of this story, it's a handy bit of PR for the in-no-way homophobic Mr Rourke.
Here's a video of him in 2008, threatening; "And tell that faggot who wrote all that sh!t in the paper I’d like to break his f**king legs."
Charming.
An apology was swiftly issued on the plastic surgery disaster's troubled actor's behalf; "I want to sincerely apologize for the derogatory word I used. It was insensitive and inappropriate of me and I am deeply sorry that I may have offended anyone."
Did Rourke actually say that - or did a publicist write it?
At the end of last year a tired and clearly emotional Mickey Rourke was filmed by TMZ refusing to apologise for using the f-word, and bemoaning the fact you can't call faggots faggots no more.
"It ain't got nothing to do with being homosexual, if they want to label all that shit, you know? Fuck you, you know - you know what I'm saying?"
Erm, not really, no.