Screen Daily is reporting that Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to star in Gypsy Boy, an adaptation of Mikey Walsh’s bestselling memoirs, which is being produced by BBC Films and Protagonist Pictures. It will reunite the X&Y writing and directing team of James Graham and Morgan Matthews, while Dee Koppang O’Leary (The Crown) and Kevin Loader (The Death of Stalin) producing.
Gypsy Boy takes place in the Romany Gypsy community and follows the Walsh family, who were highly regarded bare-knuckle fighters. Cumberbatch is set to play Frank Walsh, the father of Mikey, who pressures his son into continuing the family’s bare-knuckle boxing tradition. However, being gay, Mikey is forced to make an agonising decision – to stay and keep fighting and face the shame head on, or escape and never return.
“I was immediately drawn to Mikey’s courageous and heart-breaking story,” said Cumberbatch. “And his father Frank is unlike any character I’ve played before. He’s a complex man torn between tradition and his love for a son struggling to come to terms with an identity that’s completely at odds with Frank and his culture. It’s a tension that threatens to tear everyone in their family and that community apart.”
“We are thrilled to be working with Dee and Kevin on this extraordinary project,” added Protagonist Pictures CEO Dave Bishop. “As huge fans of Morgan Matthews’ work, we couldn’t think of a more perfect filmmaker to bring Mikey Walsh’s powerful and compelling story to the big screen. With Benedict Cumberbatch attached to play Frank Walsh, this is an incredible array of talent and we are more than excited to introduce the project to buyers here in Toronto.”
Originally published September 10, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
