Ian Wright MBE

20th November 2010

Ian Wright MBE Ex-international footballer; celebrity; media pundit; actor

Plays the character 'The Duke' In Gun Of The Black Sun

Could Ian Wright, former England international soccer player turned high-profile UK media personality, also become a film star?

Ian Wright - The Actor
The London-born Wright plays the role of nightclub owner 'The Duke' in Gun Of The Black Sun.

The character's friendship with the protagonist Axel O'Rourke (played by Gary Douglas) drags him into the evil machinations and conspiracy plotted by the film's villain Damien Lupescu (played by Richard Lynch).

"I made that role for him because he loves bikes, he has the talent and he took the job seriously," says Gary Douglas, the movie's co-producer and star. "I was acutely aware that he would be judged as another Vinnie Jones so I was adamant to make Ian's character very different and interesting."

Ian Wright - The Footballer
The acting role represents a significant addition to the charismatic Wright's career repertoire. This kicked off in professional football in the 1980s at London club Crystal Palace, followed by Wright's football career peak at Arsenal Football Club in the 1990s.

In total, the striker scored nearly 400 goals and played for the England international team that qualified for the 1998 World Cup.

Ian Wright - The Media Personality
While a footballer, Wright wrote his autobiography, released a minor hit single, and appeared in TV commercials.

Since retiring from soccer in 2000, he has hosted several UK TV shows, including Friday Night's All Wright, They Think It's All Over, Top Of The Pops, Gladiators, and Live From Studio Five.

He's currently a pundit on Absolute Radio's Rock 'N' Roll Football programme.

His other achievements include starring in Wright Across America, a digital TV show that followed him crossing the US, coast to coast, on a Harley-Davidson.

Ian Wright - The Harley-Davidson Fan
And it is his love for the iconic American motorcycle that led to his friendship with Gun Of The Black Sun co-producer and star Gary Douglas, a Harley-Davidson devotee who gives the motorcycle brand a central role in the film.

Gun Of The Black Sun is released exclusively on DVD on 1 August 2011.

Gun Of The Black Sun is a Max Productions/Stray Dog Films production.