Mickey Rourke To Play Genghis Khan?

Mickey Rourke as Genghis Khan? Um, ok.

The actor revealed that writer/director John Milius ("Apocalypse Now," "Red Dawn," "Conan The Barbarian") is working on the screenplay that will be "told from the son and grandson’s point of view, how they saw this mythic figure from their family. You see him in flashbacks, back when he was in his mid-40s. And back then, being in your mid-40s was being REALLY old."

Rourke, who apparently wasn't much fun on the otherwise jovial "Iron Man 2" set, insisted his character of Whiplash have a pet cockatoo. Luckily for Rourke, who travels around with his tiny pet dog, Loki, Khan is apparently a dog lover, "The Mongols used dogs in battle, and dogs rarely made it out of the battle [ed. Loki's dead, yo]. But in one instance, in this script, [Khan] orders his men – ‘Hold the dogs back.’ He was looking out for the dogs. I like that." But there's not word yet if Rourke will suddenly demand a sidekick panda or army or orangutans to help Khan conquer half the world.

Rourke is also apparently penning his own screenplay about motorcycle gangs, and wants to do a Hell's Angel movie with Tony Scott. And remember than long-ago rumored film "St.Vincent" that was to be directed by Walter Hill? Not happening.

But Rourke as Khan? Yeah, it's a pretty bonkers idea but no more outrageous than half the shit we have to report on a day to day basis. At the very least, if it happens, it will definitely be the most interesting movie about Genghis Khan to ever hit the big screen.