There’s been talk for over a decade about a film based on Lance Armstrong’s life but things appear to be moving far more quickly for this year’s Tour de France winner, Bradley Wiggins.
British newspaper The Daily Express reports that British producers have successfully secured American backing for the film. “Bradley is a larger-than-life personality and his story really appeals to movie executives,” an unnamed source tells the publication.
“Funding is already looking healthy and it is hoped the project will get the green light before the end of the year. Rhys Ifans is the favoured choice for the lead role as it’s felt he could capture Bradley perfectly.”
Welshman Ifans appeared alongside Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Notting Hill and has also acted in other films such as Enduring Love, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the Amazing Spider Man. He is 45 years of age, some 13 years older than Wiggins.
The rider has had the most successful year of his career, becoming the first-ever British winner of the Tour, taking Olympic time trial gold and also netting the overall classification in Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and the Critérium de Dauphiné.
He’s helped Sky team-mate Mark Cavendish to two stage wins in the Tour of Britain and sits 17th overall, 36 seconds back heading into today’s stage.