Nicolas Cage for The Wrestler
The Wrestler, now in development at Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa Pictures, centers on Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a 1980s-era star pro wrestler who has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he has a heart attack during a small-time match, a doctor tells him he could die if he fights again.

In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis the Ayatollah proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.

Though the premise sounds more twisted than interesting, expect some attention to garner for The Wrestler if Aronofsky does decide to direct.
Nicholas Cage as a Pro Wrestler??? Surely David Arquette....

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The Wrestler

DoctorOfDesire · 500 Club Member

Apparently Nick Cage has pulled out of The Wrestler. Favourite to play the title role is now Mickey Rourke.

neuman · A List Star

All i can say, is Nick Cage flavour of the month or something, he seems to be in everything (like Sam Jackson was a cpl years ago), either that or he is poor at the mo and needs the money

David McKinney · 500 Club Member

WTF? Why are they making wrestling movies? Didn't they learn from Ready to Rumble that it's a huge mistake??

This is one of the things that shows how dumb Hollywood is. How can a movie like this get greenlighted??

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Well, images are now emerging for this movie now starring Mickey Rourke. Is it me or does he look like the bastard child of Randy Savage and The Warrior?

...With a touch of Jerry Lynn....

Mollison · 500 Club Member

Whether the film is good or bad, props to Mick Rourke for the shape he's in at 51. Not sure about the extensions though!

Man In Black · Anime Mod

I dunno - he reminds of Iggy Pop in that last pic...

Mollison · 500 Club Member

In that first pic, he looks pretty much how I'd have expected Heath Ledger to look had he reached 50...

Man In Black · Anime Mod

He reminds me of Curt Hennig in that first pic.

Mollison · 500 Club Member

There is a lack of comentage on the MILF in the 2nd to last pic...

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Meh - Marissa Tomei never really did it for me...

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Marisa Tomei is now starting to get the skin out in all her flicks 5 years too late really... Getting nekkid does not get you oscars...

Mollison · 500 Club Member

Nope, but it does get you a whole new generation of fans!

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

A new movie starring Mickey Rourke as a professional wrestler has received a rapturous response at the Venice Film Festival.

Mickey Rourke
Rourke's performance is already being tipped for awards recognition
Actor, hellraiser and one-time professional boxer, Mickey Rourke has taken plenty of punches over the last 15 years.

But a film in which he plays an ageing wrestler could put the '80s heart-throb back on his feet.

In The Wrestler, the 51-year-old plays Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a washed-up fighter who is told another bout in the ring is likely to kill him.

Screening in competition at this year's festival, it is directed by Darren Aronofsky of Requiem for a Dream fame.

According to Rourke, the filmmaker didn't pull any punches. "He was brutally honest," he tells BBC News.

"He sat there and said, 'You're a great actor but you messed up your career and no one wants to hire you.'

'Blessing'

"'I have a film I want to do with you. But you have to listen to me, you must never disrespect me, you can't go out every night - and I can't pay you either.'"

Rourke got off to a promising start in acting in the 1980s with films like Diner, Angel Heart and the infamous Nine-and-a-Half Weeks.

Evan Rachel Wood and Mickey Rourke
The actor at the festival with co-star Evan Rachel Wood and a dog, Rocky
But he failed to live up to his potential and became better known for his off-camera activities. In the 1990s he briefly returned to his original career of boxing.

"I didn't mind what Darren said about screwing up my career, because I did do that," says Rourke. "I didn't know how to get it together for a long time."

A chance to return to the limelight came and went when Rourke turned down a part in Pulp Fiction.

In 2005, though, he gained rave reviews for his supporting role in dark comic-book saga Sin City.

The Wrestler, he says, is the next step on the comeback trail. "I'm thrilled about this movie. To me, it's a blessing.

"I've been out of work for 15 years and I truly believe this movie will turn things around."

His role as a scarred, pumped-up fighter with long blond tresses and a capacity for self-destruction has impressed the critics at Venice.

I realised Darren needed me to revisit some dark places where I didn't want to go
Mickey Rourke
According to Variety, it is "a galvanising, humorous, deeply moving portrait that instantly takes its place among the great, iconic screen performances."

Rourke says his boxing background was no help for the intensive three months of training he had to do for the gruelling wrestling scenes.

"I didn't have a lot of respect for wrestling," he reveals. "I thought it was just entertainment.

"Then I found out these guys take 10 years to learn how to land on the floor without hurting themselves.

'Pound of flesh'

"I just landed like a brick. My neck went, my back went and I spent more time in the doctor's office than I ever did in six years of boxing."

Even more painful was the realisation he would have to delve into his own past in order to bring "The Ram" to life.

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
The Wrestler sees Rourke playing a fighter who has seen better days
"What frightened me was I realised Darren needed me to revisit some dark places where I didn't want to go," he explains.

"I didn't want to think about my ex-wife, or my family. But I knew he would want his pound of flesh and there was no way I could skirt round it."

The actor even admits relief when the film was temporarily cancelled. Now, though, he acknowledges he has been given a second chance.

"I didn't realise it would take so long for me to patch things up," he says. "But it's not about raising hell and thumping my chest with me now.

"I don't have another 15 years to sit on the bench. Hey, I have splinters in my ass from sitting on the bench for so long."

The Wrestler will be released in the UK in 2009.

From the BBC

Man In Black · Anime Mod

A lot of good things have been said about this film but I wonder if it will help demolish some of the prejudices against wrestling held by the mainstream media or whether this will simply add more fuel to the fire....

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Sounds like Mr Rouke found out the hard way what pro wrestling is really like.Im actually quite curious about this movie so i might have to watch it when its released,but i doubt itll do anything to change the Medias opinion of Wrestling.To them it will always be a fat greasy fake pretend fighting circus pantomime ect ect...

Man In Black · Anime Mod

The Wrestler has just won the coveted Golden Lion award for Best Picture at the Venice Film festival!!

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Meltzer:

After the great response to the movie in Venice and Toronto over the weekend, a bidding war took place last night for the theatrical distribution rights to "The Wrestler." Fox Searchlight won the U.S. rights with a $4 million bid.