Every time I have heard something about the life of Lenny “Guv’nor” McLean I always wondered why the story of the legendary unlicensed boxer and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels star was never put on film. Spending years as an unlicensed boxer fighting all over England (over four thousand according to McLean!), a bouncer, a bodyguard, an actor, and (reportedly) a criminal, McLean had one of those careers that was all over the map and always fascinating. The guy was such a bad ass, successful boxer that people wanted to have him killed just to get him out of the sport!
So it’s great news that The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Revolver Entertainment is developing a film on McLean titled Guv’nor based on the book The Guv’nor Tapes a compendium of interviews with McLean and his associates by Peter Gerrard. The book is being adapted by Martin Askew (McLean’s nephew) and Paul Van Carter, and McLean’s son Jamie McLean is on board as a producer. They claim the film is “an uncompromising account of his violent and notorious life from his humble beginnings in Hoxton, East London to boxer, bouncer, bare-knuckle fighter, actor, accused murderer and family man.” Sounds awesome!
Jason Statham, Gerard Butler, Michael Fassbender, Lucas Pittaway and Daniel Hensall have all been suggested as possible leads. I’m hoping Guy Ritchie would be interested in directing this — not only did he know McLean personally, but his seedy British style and fascination with boxing (as seen in Snatch and Sherlock Holmes) would be a perfect fit.
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