Grint to star in WWII soccer film

Rupert Grint is to star in a new film about an English soccer team during World War II.

The 'Harry Potter' actor is in talks to take on one of the lead roles in 'Wartime Wonderers', which tells the story of Bolton Wanderers Football Club's players who quit the game to serve their country in 1939.

Rupert is set to play one of the star players as is British actors Matthew McNulty and Sean Maguire.

The footballers were led by captain Harry Goslin who took the microphone before a match with Sunderland at Bolton's Burnden Park to urge the 23,000-strong crowd to take up arms - before revealing he was to sign up himself.

Goslin was followed to the local drill hall by every member of the squad, who went on to face some of the heaviest action of the war together in France, North Africa and Italy.

The film - which is set for release next summer - is based on Tim Purcell and Mike Gething's 1996 book and they are looking forward to fans seeing how grounded players used to be.

Tim told the Daily Express: "It really is a gripping yarn. It was a time when footballers were part of the community and not prima donnas. They went to dance halls with fans.

"They were footballers and Englishmen who wanted to fight for their country. Harry spoke to the supporters on Easter Saturday and said he was going to join up himself. He didn't know it but all his team-mates followed him and some staff went too."