Captain Sir Tom Moore’s life story is getting the big-screen treatment.
The Second World War veteran, who raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden earlier this year, will be the subject of a new biopic.
The “uplifting” and “life-affirming” film will focus on the former British Army captain’s “close relationship with his family and explore how his strength, wisdom and humour changed the way they viewed the world” and will shoot next year.
And it seems Captain Sir Tom, 100, has got a few people in mind to play him.
He quipped: “I don’t know of any 100-year-old actors but I’m sure Michael Caine or Anthony Hopkins could do a wonderful job if they were prepared to age up!”
The film – which will “draw on his military career and dramatise how personal grief and the horrors of war shaped his life and inspired him to keep walking” – will be made by Fred Films and Powder Keg Pictures, whose credits together include Fisherman’s Friends, about the Cornish fishermen who signed a record deal, and Finding Your Feet, starring Imelda Staunton.
Writers/producers Nick Moorcroft and Meg Leonard said in a joint statement: “This is a story about the power of the human spirit and Captain Sir Tom personifies that.
“We are honoured to be telling this unique and inspiring story and are excited about audiences getting to know the man behind the headlines.”
Captain Sir Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore added: “We received so many offers but what it boiled down to was trust.
“The family are big fans of the films James, Meg and Nick have written and produced and we hope that our story connects with audiences in the same way their previous films have done.”
News of the film tops off an incredible six months for the centenarian, who made headlines during the early stages of the pandemic by walking laps of his garden in the run-up to his 100th birthday, to raise funds for the NHS.
He also broke two Guinness World Records, scored a number one single and was knighted by the Queen.