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Russell Crowe to play Marco Pierre White in biopic
Hollywood actor Russell Crowe is set to play hot headed English chef Marco Pierre White in a forthcoming biopic about the celebrity chef.
As reported by Eater, in addition to playing the chef, the Australian Oscar-winner has also written the script and will be producing the film.
White revealed the news to The Guardian: “I have just signed the deal. Russell has written the script, Russell’s company is producing it, Russell is directing it and Russell is playing the third or fourth Marco,” he told the paper.
A young Marco Pierre White photographed by Bob Carlos Clarke
“When they do a movie on your life, you don’t just have one Marco – I am nearly 60. If there was anyone in Hollywood to play me, it would have to be Russell,” he added.
The film, which will see White return to the spotlight, has been in the pipeline for five years, with Ridley Scott slated to direct at one point and Michael Fassbender tipped to star as one of the versions of Marco.
Known as the enfant terrible of the UK restaurant scene at the time, White began his classical training as a commis chef under Albert and Michel Roux at Le Gavroche.
He went on to work for Pierre Koffmann at La Tante Claire and Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons in Oxford before opening Harveys in Wandsworth in 1987, where he earned two Michelin stars.
White was the youngest chef at the time to be awarded three Michelin stars, scooping his third at Restaurant Marco Pierre White in 1994 when he was just 32.
Fellow chef Anthony Bourdain described White as “the original rock star chef – the guy we all wanted to be. He made history”.
Since retiring from the kitchen, White has opened over 40 restaurants in the UK and has become known for his outburst on everything from English sparkling wine, which he dubbed “a nonsense”, to women chefs, who he criticised for being too emotional.
It is not yet known which actor will play the younger version of the chef and whether the film will be released in cinemas or online via Netflix.