Wait, what?
Jamie Vardy is a household name in many parts of the world. His rise to fame has earned him the respect and adoration of fans and colleagues alike. Having conquered the football pitch, the Vardy name is now set to dominate the big screen in a film about his time with Leicester City.
Vardy’s biblical career has taken him across the globe, having played for the UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 Fifa World Cup. Besides his international accomplishments, Vardy has also done incredibly well in domestic games.
The film has been in development since 2016 but has since acquired two huge players, and no, not football players. Gareth-Ellis Unwin and Simon Egan, the Oscar-winning producers of The King’s Speech, are slated to be joining the project.
Casting is always a questionable process when biopics are released. Both Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman were applauded for their fantastic casting choices, whereas Ashton Kutcher portraying Steve Jobs was criticised from start to finish.
British Actor George Mackay was initially offered the role back in 2020, to which many complimented the choice because of their resemblance. But now, three names are rumoured to be in consideration, each more puzzling than the last.
Let’s break them down:
Robert Pattinson, whose work spans the enormous gap between sparkly emo-vampires, Wizards, and Batman, is not the first name many would have considered. Though his acting is undeniably proficient, there is a rather big leap between his previous roles and that of Jamie Vardy.
Next, having risen to fame after Highschool Musical, Zac Efron has since broken into almost every genre in Hollywood. He is arguably most remembered not for his roles, but for the screentime he has been shirtless. But, perhaps the casting director is trying to appeal to multiple audiences?
zac efron as jamie vardy??? BEHAVE. who’s the casting director? jamie vardy himself? https://t.co/XRUVY8SOT0
— Ruby Naldrett (@rubynaldrett) June 1, 2021
The third and final choice is none other than Louis Tomlinson. As a member of One Direction and later a solo artist, Tomlinson has been successful in the music industry. Perhaps acting and football won’t be as big of a jump as it seems?
Though there are few details besides the casting rumours, the film is already set to move into potentially tragic waters. Having Targon Egerton play an eccentric pop star is one thing, but a post-Baywatch Zac Efron portraying a lean footballer maybe a little bit of a stretch.
