Mickey Rourke To Play “A Man Who Plays Rugby Who Is Gay”

Submitted by Brendon Connelly on December 26, 2010

Appearing on Alan Carr’s Chatty Man this evening (the show will still be on as I publish this story, in fact), Mickey Rourke discussed his plans for a picture in which he’ll play Gareth Thomas, a Welsh rugby player who has made headlines for being open about his homosexuality.

Here’s how the relevant exchange between Rourke and Carr went.

Carr: Is it true you’re about to play a gay rugby player?

Rourke: You’re not supposed to say that, okay? Here’s the deal. When I met the rugby player, Gareth Thomas, this is one thing that he and I talked about. This is something that’s really important. We’re doing a movie about a man who plays rugby who is gay.

Carr: Oh, I see. Sorry, I shouldn’t be so homophobic.

Rourke: That’s the point though.

Carr: Labels.

Rourke: Abso-fucking-lutely. I read the story. it’s one of the toughest, hardest sports in the world to play. They play with no pads. They play… it’s a really brutal sport. To be a man who plays rugby who is gay and to live with that secret for the amount of years that Gareth had, to perform at the high level that he performed at, it takes a lot of courage.

Carr: Are you going to learn the Welsh?

Rourke: I have no choice.

Carr, for the record, is very openly gay himself. I’d seen some tabloid chatter about this film in the past. Tonight, Rourke made it seem a lot more tangible than I’d ever assumed. Now let’s see if it actually gets made.