This is weird, but then again it is Hollywood, so maybe it makes sense — the Mickey Rourke biopic about openly gay Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas is no longer set in Wales and is no longer about Thomas.

Sources close to production claim the film will now be set in Ireland, and Rourke will play a character named Mick ‘The Blade' Collins. Furthermore, the movie will now be called "Irish Thunder."Speaking to The Sun, the insider source says "Gareth was upset about being cut out, but hopes the story raises awareness of how hard it is for gay sportsman to come out. Nobody in America really understands rugby and there are fears they wouldn't know much about Wales either.

"It was like a car crash," Thomas told the Telegraph about his association with Rourke falling apart, though he would not go into detail.
It is unclear whether Rourke will even be playing a rugby player. On the other hand, assuming Rourke's character is an athlete dealing with being gay, it still can be effective if told correctly. It always seemed a bit weird for the 62-year-old Rourke to be playing an athlete in his 30s. CGI isn't that good.

Hat tip to Towleroad, via Jim Allen.

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