In one of the most bizarre casting news items we're likely to hear for a while, New York Yankee Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez has been offered the role of famed drag queen Potassa in the in-development Salvador Dali biopic The Surrealist. Apparently, Potassa, who served as a sort of assistant and social secretary to the Spanish painter, was known for her spectacular legs and outrageous sense of style, so an incredibly charismatic figure is required for to take on the role of this Glamazon. Still, A-Rod seems an out of left field casting choice. But the feature's director Philippe Mora, who spoke with the New York Post, insists “It’s quite a good idea and has a serious side to it… At first it sounds hilarious, but it’s a serious [offer]."
Aside from a cameo appearance on Entourage, A-Rod has no acting experience to speak of, but Mora isn't casting him for his thespian abilities. Instead, the unconventional French filmmaker behind Howling II:…Your Sister is a Werewolf and Mad Dog Morgan believes that casting a baseball player for the film would be true to the spirit of Dali, as he claims the artist was "obsessed with baseball." Besides that, A-Rod comes highly recommended by Dali acolyte Richard Dupont, who believes A-Rod has just what it takes to fill Potassa's fabulous footsteps, namely: "great legs."
Frankly, this seems like a ploy on Morra's part to draw notice to The Surrealist, which presently has less going for it than the Brian Grazer-produced Dali bio-pic that has the blessing of Dali's estate. Also, A-Rod's reps are refusing to comment on the offer, and it's highly unlikely the professional ballplayer would want to make such a major leap—not only to film, but also in heels. Sure, plenty of macho men have donned drag for movies before, but many have looked and proved ridiculous. I mean, we can't all be as flawless and fierce as Patrick Swayze.
