Potts story to get Hollywood treatment
Updated on 04 March 2008
The amazing story of Paul Potts' rise to fame is set to be made into a Hollywood film.
Simon Cowell will produce the movie which will chart the humble beginnings of the former Carphone Warehouse salesman, to his success as the winner of TV talent show Britain's Got Talent.
The singer from South Wales won the hearts of the nation with his performance of opera classic Nessun Dorma and went on to sign a £1 million deal with Cowell's record label after winning the show.
Paramount Pictures, who have produced a number of blockbusters, have reportedly snapped up the rights to the 37-year-old's story which is being hailed as "another Billy Elliot".
Cowell, a judge on Britain's Got Talent, was approached by a Hollywood executive whose daughter had shown him YouTube clips of Potts' audition.
In an interview Cowell said: "Most of these calls result in absolutely nothing, but this company got that it's another Billy Elliot, a story anyone in the world can understand.
"This was his last chance, and he literally decided to enter based on the toss of a coin. And despite his success off the back of the show, the only difference I see in him is that he got his teeth fixed."
Potts' debut album, One Chance, has sold three million copies so far and this year he is headlining 65 concerts in 13 countries.
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