Tutu Much

Yes, you may point out that this story appeared on Sunday and that today is in fact Wednesday, but when a rumour's this good, time is simply no obstacle. Jean-Claude Van Damme is, it would appear, being considered for a role in a big screen version of balletic masterpiece, Swan Lake. We can just feel the grins creeping across your disbelieving faces but this is no tall tale, scout's honour. The limber Belgian who, lest we forget, made his bones with projects like Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Streetfighter and Universal Soldier - may take the Billy Elliot route to appear in a film version of Tchaikovsky's classic. According to Sunday's Observer, the film - featuring the English National Ballet - is an attempt to bring ballet to the masses using the effects team behind Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. But before you crack up over Jean-Claude performing arabesques in a fluffy tutu bring about the need for a change of underwear, we're sorry to say that he'll be doing even less prancing around than in his usual action fare. Van Damme is one of a number of stars being considered for non-dancing roles. The man behind the film, Jonathan Shalit, declared his casting wish-list to be as follows: "For Swan Lake I have been thinking of: Von Rothbart - Jean-Claude Van Damme or Ewan MacGregor; The Prince's Mother - Dame Judi Dench, Angela Lansbury, Glenn Close or Jane Seymour. As director, l have in mind the likes of Stephen Daldry, Sam Mendes or Nicholas Hytner." We don't know about you but that's something we'd pay to see.