Mickey Rourke has decided to drop out
of playing rugby star Gareth Thomas in the upcoming film based on his
coming out gay story.
Thomas, who retired from rugby last
year, told UK tabloid The
Sun that producers are in talks with Tom Hardy (Tinker
Tailor Soldier Spy, The Dark Knight Rises, RocknRolla) to fill
the role.
The 59-year-old Rourke (The
Wrestler, Iron Man 2) reportedly bowed out due to the rigorous
training the part demanded.
“I was talking to Mickey yesterday
and basically we're now talking to other big-name actors who could
play the part instead,” Thomas told The Sun. “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.”
Rourke said he had underestimated the
physical demands of the role: “The physical thing is harder than I
thought. I'm just trying to get fit enough to do it.”
Thomas was in his early 30's when he
became one of only a handful of professional athletes to come out gay
during their careers.