TOUGH GUY COSMO LANDS ROLE IN POUNDS 13.5M HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
SCOTS movie hardman James Cosmo is shedding his tough guy image to star in Little House On The Prairie.
James, 55, best known for roles such as Mel Gibson’s English-killing sidekick Campbell in Braveheart, will next be seen as a Glasgow gang boss menacing Alex Ferns in Man Dancin’ and battling Hollywood golden boy Brad Pitt in historical blockbuster Troy.
But the red-head will show a much softer side in a pounds 13.5 million US mini-series about the close-knit Ingalls family.
The show will be based onthe books which inspired the TV classic, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, which ran from 1974 to 1983.
James said: ‘I’m going to play a Scots settler who gets trapped down a well. It means I’m probably going to spend a fortnight down a hole but I don’t mind.
‘A pal of mine called David Cunningham is directing this and gave me a guest role.
‘I’m about to go out to Calgary for two or three weeks to film an episode.’
Before heading to Canada, Clydebank-born James will be in Glasgow tomorrow night for the premiere of independent film Man Dancin’, shot in Govan last year.
He plays fearsome crime boss Donnie McGlone, who doesn’t take kindly to henchman Jimmy Kerrigan, played by ex-EastEnder Alex Ferns, going straight.
James has also just finished Wolfgang Petersen’s pounds 140 million epic, Troy, in which he, as General Glaucus, must stop Brad Pitt’s invading Greeks.
And James revealed his ambition to make a film about Robert Burns is looming closer with filming likely this summer.
The movie, to be directed by Vadim Jean, has been mooted since 2000 but could soon become a reality with Scots Tomb Raider hunk Gerard Butler in the title role.
James said: ‘The Burns movie is looking good. Gerry Butler is in place to play the man himself, Brian Cox will be in it and Brendan Gleeson is hoping to be in it.
‘We just got what we hope to be the final draft of the script from Alan Sharp last week. It’s absolutely terrific and summer is pencilled in.’
The premiere of Man Dancin’ will be held at the UGC Cinema in Renfrew Street, Glasgow, tomorrow at 7 pm.
Copyright 2004 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd.