Behan is not actually in the book the Ginger Man, but that's no surprise as it's a work of fiction.

However, if my memory serves me rightly there is a character called or with the initials "BB" who has a bit of cameo in a place called the catacombs, some underground drinking and partying place that may or may not have existed in Dublin at the time of the book. That character could be taken to be based on Behan without too much stretching of the imagination.

If Shane's in the film, i'd prefer if he didn't play Behan, but just bumped into him and said "I had a dream about you last night!".

[color=#800040]Johnny Depp set for lead role in bestselling Irish story 'The Ginger Man'[/color]
Project moves forward after author meets the Hollywood star
By EVELYN TIERNAN, IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 8:04 AMUpdated Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 1:28 PM


"..Everyone's heard of the book 'The Ginger Man' right? It's set in Dublin, Ireland in post war 1947, written by J. P. Donleavy in 1955.
At first, it was banned from the Republic of Ireland and the United Stated of America for obscenity, blasphemous pornography and whatever other moral offences they could throw at this literature.
The book was written over 50 years ago but the main character Dangerfield is as irresistible as ever. And the great news is Johnny Depp loves the book so much he wants to star in the movie.
The production of this movie has been in the pipeline for a long time now, more than a decade, and recently Donleavy, who is in his 80s, even visited New York to meet with Depp in a bar to discuss it further.
[color=#FF0040]Johnny Depp had also visited the author in Dublin too at one stage to work on the script enlisting Shane MacGowan for a part and selecting Laurence Dunmore (The Libertine) to direct.[/color] It is rumoured that Depp has offered to do the movie for free, such is his love of this book, but with the success of Pirates of the Caribbean, it has been temporarily shelved.
The novel is basically about a man of wit, intelligence, and flexible values who craves wealth but is innately incapable of working for it. He seems to crave peace but is hard-wired for bedlam, which he feels he is the victim of.
Socially there is a contrast of worldliness and middle-class respectability, with an anarchic or bohemian lifestyle. Donleavy criticises the middle-class by representing its falsehood and its money-grabbing persona in the character of Sebastian Dangerfield's main opponent and landlord Egbert Skully........."end quotehttp://www.irishcentral.com/ent/Johnny-Depp-set-for-lead-role-in-bestselling-Irish-story-The-Ginger-Man-121625874.html

Oh, I didn't mean I expected ye to LISTEN to it.... Jaysus, how innocent do ye think I am at 40? Just thought ye might like a pretty new drink coaster. :wink: nah, I know it sounds silly, but it's still a bit o' a thrill chatting to a Pogue/Radiator (we had a band here in Oz years ago called the Radiators, they were a wild bunch of fuckers).... cheers fer listening

[quote="Fintan"]No, Sir, I insist, the confusion's all mine. Stupid ignorant Plastic Paddy that I am, I never knew J.P was still in-skin and kicking. *Hah!* What a savagley misinformed post-colonial I've been..... NOW I get it, 'cause let's face it, Shane LOOKS like he walked outta the pages of The Ginger Man.
So, how much playing do you get done with all yer logging on in here? And can I be a cheeky Aussie fucker and send YOU an copy of this verdammte album when I get it finished, please Mr. Chevron, please? :lol:[/quote]

I come on here when I am skiving off ("refilling the well" is the polite phrase) from writing the Radiators' new album, and I never touch a guitar if I can help it. By all means, send me your album, but I can't promise I'll ever get to hear it - there are at any one time three towers of CDs awaiting a listen. Some get to the CD deck, some fall on the floor.

No, Sir, I insist, the confusion's all mine. Stupid ignorant Plastic Paddy that I am, I never knew J.P was still in-skin and kicking. *Hah!* What a savagley misinformed post-colonial I've been..... NOW I get it, 'cause let's face it, Shane LOOKS like he walked outta the pages of The Ginger Man.
So, how much playing do you get done with all yer logging on in here? And can I be a cheeky Aussie fucker and send YOU an copy of this verdammte album when I get it finished, please Mr. Chevron, please? :lol:

[quote="Fintan"]So, let me see if oi've got this straight...... Johnny Depp is making a movie...(what's new?).....Shane has been tentatively cast in it.....and it IS(Yes/No?) to be 'The Ginger Man'.... where does Brendan Behan come into all this :wink: Mind you that Buddha-awful picture of His Nibs wi' gnashers was enough to derange the mind, it was, but I still aver that in that pic he looks more like Brendan FRASER than BEHAN..... :lol:[/quote]

My understanding is Mr Donleavy is writing Behan into The Ginger Man. This is known in the trade as "building up your part". What I want to know is where does Behan/Shane fit into the Phil Lynnot Story? Or am I getting confused now?

So, let me see if oi've got this straight...... Johnny Depp is making a movie...(what's new?).....Shane has been tentatively cast in it.....and it IS(Yes/No?) to be 'The Ginger Man'.... where does Brendan Behan come into all this :wink: Mind you that Buddha-awful picture of His Nibs wi' gnashers was enough to derange the mind, it was, but I still aver that in that pic he looks more like Brendan FRASER than BEHAN..... :lol:

[quote="Simon Maguire"][quote="MacRua"][quote]And when was the last time you remember Shane sharing a drink?[/quote]
Two hours four minutes ago[/quote]

Wow, really well that showed me case closed, I bow in humbleness to your greatness, MacRua.[/quote]
Don't! You could ruin your back. Better share a drink too. ;)

[quote="MacRua"][quote]And when was the last time you remember Shane sharing a drink?[/quote]
Two hours four minutes ago[/quote]

Wow, really well that showed me case closed, I bow in humbleness to your greatness, MacRua.

[quote]And when was the last time you remember Shane sharing a drink?[/quote]
Two hours four minutes ago

[quote="MacRua"]Why? on this picture Shane invites everyone: come here, let's have a drink![/quote]

I don't think it's a drink he's inviting people in for :wink: And when was the last time you remember Shane sharing a drink?

I think Shane offered this service to Frank Skinner as well :D

here's a link to an article about the Ginger Man with a mention of the film as well:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/ ... ?page=full

[quote="IrishRover"]oi should remove few teeth meself...tis not roight to sing Shanes stuff with extra teeth 8)[/quote]

I'll volunteer if you need a couple removed. Always wanted to do that :twisted:

That was one classy shirt he was sporting..

Yeah i remember watching the show.

Shane just looks so strange with teeth :lol: :wink: