Actor in awe of ‘fearless’ Flynn

ERROL Flynn was swashbuckling long before Hollywood discovered him, as Australian actor Thomas Cocquerel discovered first hand.

The Sydney-born 26-yearold plays the movie legend in a new biopic, directed by Russell Mulcahy ( Highlander).

“Flynn was an incredibly complex individual, but in the same breath he was just a fear- less young man who sought out adventure and lived this life where he took everyone he knew with him,” said Cocquerel ( Table 19), who finished filming last week.

“Playing that sort of reallife character was great fun.”

The film, based on Flynn’s autobiography Beam Ends, focuses on his early life as an opium smuggler, gambler, street fighter, womaniser, and gold prospector.

The screenplay, based on an earlier version written by Flynn’s grandson, Luke, and actor-producer Corey Large, begins in 1930 in Papua New Guinea.

While working as a guide for a Hollywood producer, Flynn discovers a map on a dead prospector that he believes will lead to a fortune in gold.

In Like Flynn, made for a budget of $12 million, was shot on the Gold Coast. Tamborine Mountain doubled for the rainforests of PNG.

“It’s been incredible fun to work on this project. The guy was amazing in the way he took on life, head on, and we get to show that,” Mulcahy said.

“He went for it in a way that embraced every opportunity that came his way.”

In Like Flynn is slated for a 2018 release.