Daniel Radcliffe to play Olympic runner Seb Coe in film

Daniel Radcliffe will be playing Sebastian Coe in an upcoming film. Photo: Joella Marano
Daniel Radcliffe will be playing Sebastian Coe in an upcoming film. Photo: Joella Marano

Daniel Radcliffe can play more sports than quidditch.

The young British star has been cast to play Sebastian Coe in a new sports biopic about the battles between the British athlete and his rivalry with countryman Steve Ovett. The two were Olympic middle-distance runners during the 1980s. No one has been cast yet to play Ovett.

The screenplay is written by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, the writer for Slumdog Millionaire.

The story should make for more than just a good sports film, as the rivalry between the two transcended track and field. The two rarely raced each other aside from major championships and came from two largely different idealogical backgrounds. Coe represented a 1980s Thatcher point of view, went on to become a British Conservative MP, be appointed the House of Lords, and head the British Olympic Association for the 2012 Olympic Games in London while Ovett came from a blue collar, working-class background.

Coe went on to win the 1980 and 1984 Olympics in the 1500m and finished second in the 800m at both events also. Ovett won the 800m in 1980 and finished third in the 1500m the same year.

The film will be called Gold and in being shot in the next year in the UK and Russia.

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The best trainers in Canada under $150

We curated the best performance trainers under $150 to meet your 2024 running goals, while staying on budget