Mickey Rourke is set to play the fiendishly sadistic mob hit man, Richard Kuklinski.

Kuklinski is the subject of the bestselling book ‘The Ice Man,’ by Philo Carlo. The graphic and chilling story chronicles Kuklinski’s rise as a killer and years working for the mafia, also detailing his family life with his wife and children. He is said to have murdered more than 200 people. 

Carlo told the New York Post’s Page six Rourke is perfect for the role. “He’s really looking forward to being the Ice Man, and I think he’ll do a great job,” Carlo said. “He’s talking about it being his ‘Raging Bull.’”

Page Six says Hollywood producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura did have the movie rights to the 2006 book but his option expired in August, and Carlo wouldn’t extend the deal because Di Bonaventura – producer of ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,’ and the upcoming Angelina Jolie thriller ‘Salt’ – wanted Channing Tatum in the title role.

Tatum has appeared in ‘She’s the Man;’ the dance/romance movie ‘Step Up;’ ‘Fighting’ and ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.’

Carlo said at the time, “I think Mickey Rourke would really be good. He’s got that sense of danger . . . But it’s not Channing Tatum.” Carlo later met with Rourke and plans got underway.

Richard Kuklinski committed his first murder at age 13 and was killing vagrants just for the fun of it before turning pro. He was arrested in 1986 and died in jail 20 years later. The death was ruled one by natural causes but the timing is considered to be suspicious as the Ice Man had been scheduled to testify against former Gambino crime family underboss Sammy “The Bull” Gravano.

(Photo by PR Photos)