Mickey Rourke Is Reportedly Facing Homelessness And Bankruptcy While Chasing One Final Role

Mickey Rourke, 73, stands at a peculiar crossroads. Once among Hollywood's most electric leading men, he is now pinning his future on landing one of two major film roles while navigating a very public financial meltdown. The New York-born actor is reportedly being considered to portray Ozzy Osbourne and Johnny Cash in upcoming music biopics, even as he faces eviction proceedings, mounting personal debt and lingering fallout from his removal from the reality television programme Celebrity Big Brother last year.

It is a desperate gamble that encapsulates both the precariousness of fame in an age of relentless scrutiny and the peculiar persistence of a performer who refuses to exit the stage quietly. Rourke's circumstances remain dire. His manager has confirmed he is currently staying at a West Hollywood hotel with his three dogs while sorting his accommodation, and the appearance of removal vans outside his Los Angeles home has raised concerns about possible homelessness and bankruptcy. Yet, remarkably, serious conversations are still taking place about casting him in prestige projects.

The irony is sharp and difficult to ignore. Rourke, who was famously revived by Darren Aronofsky's 2008 film The Wrestler, earned an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe and BAFTA recognition for the role. He proved he could carry a film built entirely around pain, regret and resilience. However, subsequent roles in Iron Man 2 and The Expendables failed to sustain that momentum, and Rourke has acknowledged that clashes with directors and a volatile temperament have damaged his professional prospects over the years.

Two Unlikely Shots at Redemption

Industry insiders claim producers are seriously discussing Rourke for portrayal of the musicians in their later years, with both projects understood to be in early stages of development. Jack Osbourne, son of the late Black Sabbath frontman who died in 2025 aged 76, has previously confirmed that an Ozzy biopic is moving forward with a completed script and director attached. 'We have our decided pick, and I can't say anything yet, but it's a phenomenal, phenomenal actor,' he said, adding that filming could begin in spring with a possible release in 2027.

One Hollywood source suggested there is a curious perception among some producers that Rourke still possesses serious acting credentials, despite the tabloid drama. 'There is a feeling that audiences here still see Mickey as a serious actor rather than a tabloid figure,' the insider said. 'Some producers are barely aware of the British reality TV scandal, and others think it actually reinforces his underdog status. They believe he still has one last heavyweight performance in him.'

The Ozzy project is understood to focus on the singer's final chapter, leading up to his recent homecoming show in Birmingham, with producers seeking something 'raw and reflective, similar in emotional weight to what Mickey did in The Wrestler'. Streaming platforms, including Amazon MGM and Apple, are believed to be monitoring both the Osbourne and Cash projects, with filmmakers including Martin Scorsese rumoured to be informally linked to discussions.

The Reality of Pride and Desperation

Behind closed doors, the situation is considerably more fraught. One industry source warned that Rourke is essentially 'rolling the dice' on landing either role, primarily because he 'needs cash now'. His manager has disclosed that he has been offered substantial work ranging from independent films to photoshoots and live appearances, yet has turned down many proposals.

The reason is stubborn and distinctly human: his pride. Rourke remains interested only in projects that reflect his former A-list standing, with daily rates closer to £160,000. He has rejected a $100,000 GoFundMe campaign — which his representative confirmed would be returned to donors — as genuinely humiliating, despite his deteriorating circumstances.

Whether these rumoured biopics materialise remains uncertain, but for Rourke, the stakes have never been higher. Creative redemption and financial survival now lie at the centre of his chaotic, compelling story.