BLOCK BUSTER
EastEnders star lands huge movie role alongside Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham two years after soap exit
Here's who will be making you grab your popcorn and spend the day at the cinema
EASTENDERS star Ricky Champ has landed himself a major role in a Jason Statham movie two years after leaving the Square.
Ricky was best known for playing loveable thug Stuart Highway on the BBC soap, but left the show in 2022.
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His character was last seen driving off into the sunset with wife Rainie (Tanya Franks) to start a new life after his string of mental health battles and fight with male breast cancer.
Since appearing on the West End as part of the cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story, Ricky will now be tackling something more action packed as he takes aim at Hollywood film, Levon’s Trade.
Levon’s Trade will see Hollywood hard-nut Jason Statham play the titular character, a man who was previously a legend in the black ops trade before leaving the world behind to ‘go straight’ and be a simple construction worker.
However, his new quiet life is upended when the teenage daughter of his boss disappears, and he’s enlisted to help, falling into a darker criminal conspiracy as he does so.
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Joining him in the cast is Hollyoaks and Peaky Blinders star Emmett Scanlan, Stranger Things actor David Harbour and Narcos: Mexico star Michael Peña.
Sylvester Stallone has penned the script with revisions by Suicide Squad’s David Ayer.
While details of Ricky’s role has been kept under wraps, the star shared a screengrab of the announcement article and wrote on Instagram: “Had my first day on this today… Can’t wait for you all to see it!”
The star’s wife, Sammy Champ, has cheered him on, also posting an Instagram Stories with the article and writing: “[Ricky Champ] started filming a part in this today. Who’s up for a mass cinema trip to watch it when it comes out!!
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“Job 1 of 2 very cool things he’s doing right now.”
Filming commenced in London this week.
Stuart and Rainie leave Walford for the last time as couple bow out of EastEnders
The announcement comes just three months after Ricky revealed he was also about to appear in a Netflix series.
The star has a role in The Decameron, a period story set in the midst of the Black Death.
The show also has an all-star cast including I Hate Suzie’s Leila Farzad, Veep’s Tony Hale, Saoirse-Monica Jackson from Derry Girls and Girls’ Zosia Mamet.
Sharing a picture with blacked-out teeth, Ricky was seen beaming while looking grubby and holding a toasted rat on a stick.
The Decameron is set for release later this year.
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