ROBBIE Williams and his dad have both been offered parts in a multi-million pound film to be shot in Bolton.

As reported in last night's BEN, the lead role in a movie, provisionally entitled Addict, has been offered to the former Take That star.

And one Sunday tabloid claims he has been offered a £1 million pay packet to accept the role.

The film is based on the true life story of former drug addict turned wealthy businessman Stephen Smith. It charts his life of drugs, crime, abuse and ultimate success, when he left his seedy past behind him and made a new life in Germany.

Robbie's dad, the stand-up comic and singer Pete Williams, has been offered the part of Stephen's father.

Initial plans have been made to shoot some scenes in Deane, where Smith spent several months living in a squat, battling his drug abuse and alcoholism, after being thrown off a train at Bolton station. Speaking from his office in Munich, where he now runs a successful business, Stephen Smith said it was his idea to approach Robbie, who has experienced his own very public battles with drugs and alcohol.

"I thought, Who better to play me than Robbie? He's been there and got the T-shirt."

He went on: "Mine is a horror story about how drugs and drink can destroy you. Getting someone like Robbie, who is idolised by millions, would really get the message across.

"Youngsters from Bolton would then go to the cinema and see their idol disintegrate before their eyes.

"If that means that just one person who sees it says no to drugs the next time they are at a disco, then it will have been worth it." He adds: "And Robbie looks a bit like I did at his age. He's got a bit of meat on him, he's good looking and he's got a dark complexion."

Stephen says initial reaction from Robbie's agent to the offer has been "promising".

"He said he saw no reason why he couldn't do it. We were going to shoot the movie in August, but Robbie is doing a tour of the US at the same time. But there would be no problems in postponing it until late September, when he's free."

And Stephen predicts a great future for Robbie if he accepts the role.

"He's the Elvis or Sinatra of his generation. I can see him going on forever.

"He's got that star quality and real talent that you can only be born with. I see no reason why, this time next year, he's not picking up an Oscar." Mr Smith says that he identifies with Robbie because when he was a similar age, he was also very wealthy.

"I could go and buy a new car like other people buy a packet of cigarettes. Want a new house? I'd go out and buy one.

"When you're young and you get that sudden wealth it's very difficult to keep your feet on the ground."

He also spelled out another good reason for Robbie agreeing to do the film.

Last week Robbie lost an estimated £1 million in a court battle with his former manager Nigel Martin Smith.

"So the million we're offering him would help him pay for that," he quipped. Stephen is confident that Robbie will eventually sign the contract to do the movie, which is being produced by top Hollywood producer Gary Kurtz, the man behind such hit films as Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

However, a spokesman for Robbie's record company, Chrysalis, said there was no way he could accept a lead role in any movie this year.

"There is just not enough time for him to do it," she said. "The most he could spare is a few days to do a cameo."

She confirmed that the singing sensation had been approached by fax to do the Addict film, but that no script, and no financial offer had been forthcoming.

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