Revolver Guns For British Bare-Knuckle Boxer Tale

Interesting plot. It looks like it's going to be small budget - $5 million. I also am not sure about Gerry trying to do a east London accent, but the plot looks awesome. I could see MF doing this kind of movie, although JS has the bare-knuckle fighter look.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/revolver-guns-british-bare-knuckle-223574


Revolver Guns For British Bare-Knuckle Boxer Tale
5:48 AM 8/16/2011 by Stuart Kemp

Jason Statham, Gerard Butler and Michael Fassbender all high on producer wish list to play notorious character.
LONDON – The brutal life story of one of Britain’s most notorious bare-knuckle fighters is set to punch its way onto the big screen.

U.K. independent distribution, finance and production house Revolver Entertainment is developing a script based on the life and times of Lenny McLean, a man also known as “the Guv’nor.”

The film script, working title The Guv'nor, is based on the book “The Guv’nor Tapes,” compiled by Peter Gerrard from extensive interviews with McLean and those around him.

Paul Van Carter is writing the screenplay alongside Martin Askew, Lenny’s nephew, for the project.

Backers said the script aims to offer “an uncompromising account of his violent and notorious life from his humble beginnings in Hoxton, East London to boxer, bouncer, bare-knuckle fighter, actor, accused murderer and family man.”

Revolver’s Justin Marciano and Nick Taussig will produce the film with Lenny McLean’s son Jamie McLean.

The budget is set to be around $5 million subject to casting.

Several names are on the producers’ wish list to play the East End hard man with Jason Statham, Gerard Butler and Michael Fassbender leading the field of established talent.

Upcomers Lucas Pittaway and Daniel Hensall's performances in crime drama Snowtown have also captured the eye of the producers.

Revolver snapped up U.K. distribution rights to Snowtown during Cannes earlier this year.

“McLean’s story typifies the sheer brutality of growing up in the East End of London through the post-War years, but it is also the journey of a man who finds redemption through the hellish world of bare-knuckle fighting,” said Marciano.

Gerrard compiled “The Guv’nor Tapes” from extensive recorded interviews with McLean to create a no-holds-barred account of McLean’s life.

Revolver snapped up the rights to the book and, with the support of the McLean family aims to turn McLean’s story into a film.

I don't know if this is just the Daily Star Reporter's spin or if Gerry is likely to get/take the role:


http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/206467/Gerard-Butler-to-play-hardest-man-in-Britain-/


GERARD BUTLER TO PLAY 'HARDEST MAN IN BRITAIN'
17th August 2011 By Daily Star Reporter
GERARD Butler is set to play the “hardest man in Britain” in a hot new movie.


Gerard Butler, 41, is tipped for the role of notorious East End bare- knuckle brawler Lenny McLean, nicknamed The Guv’nor.

The film will be adapted from the book The Guv’nor Tapes, in which McLean tells of his violent life and his friendship with the Kray twins.

McLean, an actor in later life, died from cancer, aged 49, in 1998

From The Sun:


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3756824/Gerard-Butlers-fist-in-line-as-boxer.html


Gerard Butler’s fist in line as boxer


MOVIE hunk Gerard Butler is set to play "Britain's hardest man" in a film about notorious bare-knuckle brawler Lenny McLean.
The 300 star tops a wish list drawn up by producers.

They see the Scot, 41, as the ideal man to portray McLean - a violent East End enforcer known as The Guv'nor.

But Butler faces competition for the role from action man Jason Statham and X-Men star Michael Fassbender.

McLean, a friend of the Krays, died in 1998. Producers said his story "typifies the sheer brutality of growing up in the East End through the post-war years".

Indeed, LTGJ! I hope this pans out. The thought of him all bulked up and in a testosterone-fest of a boxing movie sounds like nice eye candy indeed.

I also think it sounds like something right up his alley and might make for a good career choice. It plays to his strengths as an actor and sounds like a movie that would be more well-respected and more well-received than the likes of things like The Bounty Hunter.