Winstone: 'Money problems killed Sweeney'

Ray Winstone has blamed financial problems for the demise of his big screen remake of The Sweeney.

The 44 Inch Chest actor was attached to play Jack Regan in Nick Love's movie, a character originated by John Thaw in the popular '70s TV show. Michael Fassbender had also been rumoured for the project, taking on the role of Dennis Waterman's detective George Carter.

"It's not happening, it's not happening. It won't happen," Winstone told DS, adding that a lack of support from backers Fox Searchlight killed the project.

"They didn't have the money in the first place! It's the same old story. It was really good; I liked the original script. It had that kind of old style feeling to it, but the problem is you're playing about with people who are saying in one breath they've got the money and the next minute, they haven't. That happens a lot in our game, you know?"

The Sweeney, created by Ian Kennedy Martin, ran between 1975 and 1978 on ITV and spun off into two feature films, Sweeney! and Sweeney 2.

> Click here to read our full interview with Ray Winstone