Now it’s Captain Tom the Movie: Clint Eastwood, Anthony Hopkins and Michael Caine are in the running to play hero, 100, who raised nearly £33m for NHS
- Captain Tom has been approached by several producers about film, sources say
- Those in running to portray fundraiser include Michael Cane and Clint Eastwood
- Veteran also reportedly agreed to make a two-part documentary series with ITV
Captain Tom Moore could see his life played out in cinemas soon as talks begin to make a film about his extraordinary past.
The newly-knighted fundraiser, 100, has been approached by several producers and studios about a potential movie after he raised nearly £33million for the NHS, the Sun on Sunday reported.
Those in the running to portray the national hero are said to include Hollywood stars Clint Eastwood, 90, Michael Caine, 87, Anthony Hopkins, 82, and Dick Van Dyke, 94.
The film would document Captain Tom’s impressive career in the military during the Second World War alongside his recent fundraising achievements, sources say.
Captain Tom Moore (pictured with his medal after being knighted on July 17) could see his life played out in cinemas soon as talks begin to make a film about his extraordinary past
Those in the running to portray the national hero include Hollywood stars Clint Eastwood (right) and Michael Caine (left)
An insider said: ‘His story is the stuff of Hollywood movies. Not only are his recent exploits remarkable, but as a Second World War hero in India and Burma he has seen and done so much.
‘Nothing has been signed – the family are still overwhelmed with all the support.’
Captain Tom has also reportedly agreed to make a two-part documentary with ITV.
The source added: ‘The documentary has been agreed. These are exciting times.
‘He’s pinching himself about the opportunities he has.’
Captain Tom was presented with a knighthood by the Queen earlier this month after he raised £33million for NHS Charities amid the coronavirus lockdown.
He also became the oldest person in Britain to record a Number One hit when he performed a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball.
Captain Tom was presented with a knighthood by the Queen earlier this month after he raised £33million for NHS Charities amid the coronavirus lockdown
Actors Anthony Hopkins, 82, (left) and Dick Van Dyke, 94, (right) are also reportedly in the running to play Captain Tom
The veteran, who served in India and Burma, had set out to raise £1,000 by walking 100 laps of his garden in the village of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday on April 30.
But his efforts struck a chord with national feeling, and praise and donations flooded in, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the veteran ‘provided us all with a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus’ and recommended he be knighted.
Captain Tom was knighted on July 17 by the Queen, who arrived straight from the wedding of her granddaughter Princess Beatrice in an unprecedented personal ceremony.
The veteran said receiving the knighthood during the open-air ceremony had been a ‘marvellous day’. He added: ‘You never, ever could imagine what it was like to be so close to the Queen, who is an absolute dream of a person.’
When asked what it meant for Her Majesty to make a rare public appearance outside during the coronavirus crisis, he said: ‘We really enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and to have that honour, really, that is something very special.’
‘It was absolutely amazing that she would take all the trouble to come out on that one occasion. It was absolutely outstanding, and it is impossible to give her all the thanks that I feel for the honour that she gave me by coming out in the sun yesterday. It really was a magnificent day, and she really was a wonderful person.’
He has said afterwards that despite his new title from Her Majesty, he would still like to be known as Captain Tom, rather than Sir Tom.
‘I’m still Captain Tom,’ he told BBC Breakfast. ‘I think that’s the easy one. People will be able to remember, so just straight forward Captain Tom, or if we get a bit closer, just Tom.’
From Yorkshire to India: Colonel Tom Moore’s career in the military
Colonel Tom pictured during the Second World War. Boris Johnson described him as a national treasure during the Covid-19 crisis after raising almost £33million for the NHS
Captain Tom Moore was conscripted into the British Army in June 1940 when he was 20, alongside all men aged 20 to 35.
He began his military career in Otley, West Yorkshire, where he joined the 8th Battalion, the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment under Lieutenant Lord George Saville.
The Regiment was sent to train in Wadebridge, Cornwall where they were tasked with coastal defence amid a predicted German invasion.
A young Captain Moore was soon promoted to Corporal and sent to the officer cadet training unit in Droitwich Spa.
Here, he celebrated his 21st birthday after he passed as a Second Lieutenant.
In August 1941, he was sent to the DWR headquarters in Halifax where he joined the 9th Battalion at Winchcombe.
The infantry battalion then converted to an armoured regiment 146th Royal Armoured Corp, though the majority of the soldiers could not drive.
In October, the unit was posted to Bombay, now Mumbai, in India. The journey took six weeks by sea, with a four-day delay in Freetown, Sierra Leone and a four-day stop in Cape Town.
Captain Moore then took a train from Bombay to Poona, before arriving at Kirkee, a town now known as Khadki.
The 9th DWR formed the 50th Indian Tank Brigade under the command of Brigadier Schreiber.
Captain Moore was then asked by the Brigadier to start a motorcycling course for the Brigade due to his expertise for the sport.
The Brigade was then ordered to move to Calcutta – the road journey was in a monsoon and took three weeks.
His Battalion was stationed in the Lohardaga district near Ranchi.
They then took part in two exercises in the Arakan before moving further east and south to Rangoon.
Captain Moore was then sent on a course at the approved vehicle depot in Bovington, England.
He remained here as an instructor until it was closed.