Are we entering a new golden age of wrestlers-turned-movie stars? Specifically in blockbuster sci-fi films? Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (as is his proper title) has long since swapped the ring for the silver screen, and he's been joined by Batista as muscle-bound Drax The Destroyer in new Marvel movie Guardians Of The Galaxy. Word on the street is that the WWE's own Sheamus could soon be making his own cinematic debut, playing Darth Vader in the new Star Wars film. And the evidence to support that is starting to pile up. We already saw the tabloid story suggesting a link between the Irish grappler's jaunt to his home country and the location where director JJ Abrams is currently shooting the long-awaited follow up to the space opera series. It would, indeed, be a huge coincidence for Sheamus and the production to be in the same place at the same time, if you believe in that sort of thing. Plus the wrestler, real name Stephen Farrelly, has played Luke Skywalker's father (SPOILERS) during publicity events in the past. Since then even more pieces of the puzzle has been put together by eager fans who know of Abrams' penchant for mysteries and, teasing his audience. This is the guy who created Lost, after all. Sheamus returned to the US after his trip home this past week, and yet didn't appear on RAW, Tuesday night's SmackDown or Main Event tapings - with no explanation. He did, however, make mention of his "epic trip home" during a backstage interview, fuelling rumours further after tweeting a photo of a red toy lightsaber he'd been sent by Mattel. Regardless, it's pretty weird that the current United States Champion would be totally absent from a week of WWE programming, especially in the build up to SummerSlam. And it'd make sense for Vader to make an appearance in Star Wars Episode VII, even though he died at the end of Return Of The Jedi (SPOILERS). He's one of the most iconic villains of all time, and he's been played by a 6-foot-something muscle bound guy with a dodgy accent in the past - Sheamus is, essentially, this era's Dave Prowse. Almost. All the pieces seem to fit...
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
