Gyllenhaal to play Armstrong in Lance biopic

By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor

The choice of which Hollywood star will play Lance Armstrong in the long-rumored biopic of the seven-time Tour de France winner was reportedly leaked by Armstrong while talking to ESPN. Jake Gyllenhaal, the co-star of the film Brokeback Mountain has apparently been chosen, according to multiple entertainment news sources.

Armstrong also confirmed that Matthew McConaughey had been in the running for the role but the movie's producers decided otherwise. A photo of Lance and McConaughey was featured in the August 28 edition of Newsweek. Additionally, photos of both stars riding with Armstrong have appeared in the media in the last month.

The New York Post reported, "Lance said that's why he has been spending so much time with them both this summer."

No word yet on who will play the key characters involved in Armstrong's life, or whether Sheryl Crow will be portrayed at all. The entertainment media has also combined recent revelations by Crow about their break-up. "When we broke up it was devastating," Crow was quoted as saying.