OHMYGOSSIP — John Hurt has joined the cast of ‘My Name is Lenny’.
The ‘Alien’ actor has been announced as the latest cast member to sign up for the boxing drama movie, which has wrapped after a four-week shoot in London.
The film will tell the real life story of bare-knuckle fighter Lenny McLean – who will be portrayed by ‘Mad Max’ actor Josh Helman – and his life from starting out as a young fighter in the 1970s.
Director Ron Scalpello said: “There are many East End legends that have been brought to the screen recently, but Lenny McLean’s story has always fascinated me.
“Paul van Carter’s and Martin Askew’s script goes beyond the hyper-masculinity of this giant of a man and looks at the construction of an invincible identity that was forged in trauma.
“We’ve attracted a wonderful and diverse cast to bring this daring, street-fighting man and his 70’s world to life.
“‘My Name is Lenny’ will be a visceral, brutal and emotional experience. I, like many people, can’t wait to see Lenny’s story on the big screen.”
Chanel Cresswell will portray Lenny’s wife Val McLean, and the cast also includes Nick Moran, Jennifer Brooke, Charley Palmer Rothwell and the current bare knuckle world champion fighter Decca Heggie.
The motion picture will document Lenny taking on his rival Roy ‘Pretty Boy’ Shaw (UFC champion Michael Bisping) in three big bouts as well as how he became known as The Guv’nor after winning the championship title.
McLean was no stranger to the big screen himself having starred as Barry the Baptist in Guy Ritchie’s film debut ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’, which hit cinemas a month after he passed away in July 1998.