Mickey Rourke wants to be Genghis Khan

Mickey Rourke has been working like a maniac ever since his comeback in THE WRESTLER (or SIN CITY, it could be argued), but he’s not going to rest until he takes over a country or two.

Rourke apparently plans to portray Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan in a biopic (despite not being even remotely Asian, unless you count whatever is up with his eyes now), and with writer-director John Milius (CONAN THE BARBARIAN, RED DAWN).

As Rourke tells the Orlando Sentinel: “I read his script and you know, the man is known for his tough writing. He wrote CONAN and DIRTY HARRY and APOCALYPSE NOW, and it’ll be interesting to see how he works behind the camera. I’m playing Genghis. John wrote as a piece told from the son and grandson’s point of view, how they saw this mythic figure from their family. You see him in flashbacks, back when he was in his mid-40s. And back then, being in your mid-40s was being REALLY old.”

Rourke says that the project will require him to train in horseback riding and archery, and will film in India and China. He goes on to mention that his planned hitman drama ST. VINCENT, with his JOHNNY HANDSOME collaborator Walter Hill, is no longer happening.

The infamous Genghis Khan was a Mongolian general and emperor in the 12th and 13th centuries, known for his military leadership, cruelty and a supposed love of dogs. He conquered vast portions of northern China and southwestern Asia before visiting modern day San Dimas for a high school history report.