EXCLUSIVE: Actor Steven Waddington (The Imitation Recreation) has penned a screenplay that he’ll direct based mostly on the lifetime of veteran Snooker participant Jimmy White, with Aneurin Barnard (Dunkirk) and Ray Winstone (Attractive Beast) signed on to star.
Barnard — finest recognized for his breakout in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirokay but additionally has credit comparable to The Goldfinch and the BBC’s standard 2016 Warfare & Peace adaptation — will play White within the pic. Producers informed us the movie will condense the life and profession of the colourful six-time Snooker World Championship finalist into “one loopy night time” throughout which he “is compelled to confront his darker aspect.”
Produced by Black Water Footage and Lipsync Productions, the characteristic shoots in London this April. Winstone and his long-term supervisor, Michael Wiggs, are additionally on board as co-producers. The movie will mark Waddington’s characteristic directorial debut.
“I wish to illuminate the darkness Jimmy dragged himself via as he misplaced way more than these well-known six World Championship finals,” stated Waddington.
“Set in the course of the 80s and 90s when these tournaments have been performed stay to tens of millions at dwelling, this shy, sophisticated genius tore himself aside behind the scenes – and it’s this vicious, self-inflicted energy battle I wish to seize, as his biggest match grew to become Jimmy White Vs his personal demons.”
Nicknamed “The Whirlwind” due to his flamboyant model of play, White is one in every of Snooker’s hottest exports. He’s finest recognized for reaching the ultimate of the World Championships on six events with out successful. White has additionally been vocal about his struggles with substance abuse, as soon as telling a BBC documentary that on the top of his fame, he plowed via £35,000 ($44,000) on a crack cocaine habit. White has additionally efficiently battled Most cancers and was awarded an MBE in 1999 for his providers to the game of Snooker.
Wiggs added: “Ray and I’ve admired Steve as an actor for a few years, and once we learn this extremely sharp, poignant, and humorous script, there was no query that we wished to become involved.”
Aneurin Barnard is represented by Roger Charteris and Zoe Stoker at The Artists Partnership and Ziffren Brittenham for authorized illustration. Ray Winstone is represented by Michael Wiggs at Fashionable Collective. Steven Waddington is represented by Ness Evans at 42 and Penelope Killick at The Artists Partnership.
