Passion of the Rourke

If Mickey Rourke doesn’t slow down, he’ll need to take another long break from Hollywood just to rest.

Maintaining post-WRESTLER inertia, Rourke has joined yet another project, an indie drama called PASSION PLAYS. Absolutely no other details on the movie were offered, other than it will be written and directed by Mitch Glazer (writer of SCROOGED and THE RECRUIT), and is seeking a viable female lead.

Meanwhile, Rourke has finally been confirmed to play the Russian villain in IRON MAN 2, after endless rumor, speculation and behind-the-scenes dealings. According to Variety, he’ll be playing Whiplash, “a character that includes elements from that comicbook villain and Crimson Dynamo, another Russian baddie.”

In addition to these projects, Rourke is also involved with Walter Hill’s hitman movie ST. VINCENT, the Bolly/Hollywood crime thriller BROKEN HORSES, the drama 11 MINUTES and, most importantly, THE EXPENDABLES. I suppose the upside of Mickey’s current visage is that you won’t be able to tell if he’s tired…