The makers of a new King Arthur film continued their search for "fifth-century lookalikes" in Dublin's Factory Studios yesterday to find some lean, muscular men to appear in the film.
Bare-chested men of all ages, shapes and sizes queued to have their photographs taken and were encouraged with words like: "Think warriors, lads, running through the woods, hunting for your food."
Sixty scantily-clad, athletic men will be chosen to star as Merlin's warriors when filming begins next month.
Some 5,500 people, including many women, have already been auditioned around the country to appear in "a demystified take on the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table".
The battle scenes will be shot over six weeks in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare, and extras will appear as Picts, Saxons and villagers in a specially-built set which will include a huge reconstruction of Hadrian's Wall.
Mr Seamus Doyle, a single father living in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, starred as an extra in the Disney production of Oliver Twist. He said: "I will get cast but it's a step down. I was in Oliver and I was wonderful. I've never come down. I'm infallible."
Mr Dave Concannon, from Dublin, was recently made redundant. "I'm using this as a springboard to get into film. It's a bit nerve-racking. I'm not used to walking around in public with my top off," he said.
Others arrived in the hope of making money over the summer for college. One woman said: "It'd be nice to have someone telling me what to do for a change. I enjoy epic movies. There's very few older people here so I might get cast."
The Jerry Bruckheimer production will start next month, finish in October and will star Keira Knightley of Bend It Like Beckham. It is expected to concentrate on the history and politics of King Arthur's era rather than the mythical elements which were the focus of other productions. Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Tears of The Sun) will direct the film.
Assistant director Gail Munnelly said she was still looking for extras. Anyone who is interested can post a photograph to: King Arthur, Ardmore Studios, Bray, Co Wicklow.