The Lowdown: Marco Pierre White’s biopic
Wow. Who is playing him?
Russell Crowe will be playing the famous chef, as well as taking on writing and directing duties. With Marco having both the look and temperament of a mafia don we would have suggested Robert De Niro for the starring role. Failing that, his real-life doppelgänger Jay Rayner.
And who’s playing Gordon Ramsay?
It’s unclear at this point whether Marco’s occasional sparring partner will feature. It’s a strong possibility, though, as the film is to focus on his rise to the top of the restaurant game in the early 90s. Ramsay worked for Marco during this period and the pair’s falling out over - amongst other things - the theft of a reservations book could be a good plot development.
Does that mean Crowe won’t be charting the rise of the bandanaed one’s casual dining empire?
Our guess is that the credits will roll after the chef hands back his three Michelin stars and walks off into the sunset. The final scene being the cutting of the ribbon at the opening of a steakhouse in Milton Keynes wouldn’t have quite the same dramatic impact.
So the film won’t be tackling Marco the Unilever years either?
We think it’s a safe bet that his tireless work promoting Knorr stockpots won’t be part of the film. Although this could provide an opportunity for some strong product placement, although admittedly not quite at Bond franchise levels.
What’s it going to be called?
It’s unknown at this point. Suggestions from the Twittersphere include I Knorr What You Did Last Summer, MPW Steakhouse of Horrors and The P&O Man Always Rings Twice - the latter an ingenious reference to Marco’s work with P&O Ferries. Only time will tell whether Marco will turn out to be box office gold, but when it comes to the recent crop of films about high-flying chefs and restaurants the bar is set pretty low. We're looking at you, Burnt.
