Manchester United have apparently agreed a deal to create a new TV drama series, similar to the style of popular period drama The Crown. Football and TV fans are already gossiping over which actors could be cast for the likes of George Best, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham and Bobby Charlton.
Many eyebrows may be raised as Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz are suggestions for being cast as David and Victoria Beckham.
MyBettingSites.co.uk have created a list of betting odds for which actors could be cast as Man United heroes from the past, based on their age, personality and fan gossip.
George Best – Casting Odds
Aaron Taylor-Johnson — 2/1 (Favourite)
Right age, A-list momentum, and proven dangerous charisma (Nocturnal Animals, Bullet Train). Feels like a genuine studio choice, not just fan noise.
Paul Mescal — 5/1
Strong Irish credibility and emotional depth, but leans toward wounded introspection over swagger. Best was chaos with a grin; Mescal’s charm comes with guilt.
Robert Sheehan — 6/1 (Shortened)
Fan-driven surge; Irish, naturally mischievous, rock-star energy (Misfits, The Umbrella Academy).
Jack O’Connell — 7/1
All edge and danger, but Best needs seduction as much as self-destruction. Sells the fall better than the rise.
Fionn O’Shea — 12/1
Authentically Irish, but lacks the feral star power the role demands.
Bobby Charlton – Casting Odds
Johnny Flynn — 6/4 (Favourite)
Stature, dignity, quiet authority; dead-ringer energy. Feels like a casting already half-done.
Josh O’Connor — 4/1
Prestige darling with range, slightly too twitchy for Charlton’s calm gravity.
Callum Turner — 6/1
Physically convincing, but softer presence than the role demands.
Tom Hughes — 10/1
Solid period-TV operator, but lacks the mythic weight.
Denis Law – Casting Odds
Martin Compston — 5/4 (Favourite)
Scottish, stocky, massive TV credibility. Mercurio connection points to grounded, prestige realism.
Jack Lowden — 4/1
Classy, controlled choice, more refined than Law’s raw chaos.
Kevin Guthrie — 6/1
Raw, intense, less bankable post-controversy.
Sam Heughan — 12/1
Physically wrong for the role; too tall and polished.
Sir Matt Busby (Multi-Era) – Casting Odds
Stephen Graham (young / mid years) — Evens (1/1)
Strong physical resemblance, immense emotional weight, unquestioned British TV royalty.
Gary Oldman (later years) — 6/4
Pure gravitas: voice, presence, awards potential.
Aidan Gillen — 5/1
Mercurial and intelligent, but lacks necessary warmth.
Bill Nighy — 8/1 (Prestige Curveball)
Elegance and authority in spades; better as reflective narrator or elder statesman than central dramatic engine.
Sir Alex Ferguson – Casting Odds
Brian Cox (later years) — 2/1 (Favourite)
Active, commanding presence; authentic Scottish gravitas. Most realistic choice for elder Ferguson.
Daniel Day-Lewis (prime years) — 5/1 (Dream Pick)
Transformative, awards-magnet energy — perfect on paper, but highly unlikely to commit.
David Morrissey — 6/1
Solid and credible, slightly underpowered for Ferguson’s mythic presence.
Peter Mullan — 8/1
Darker, intense edge; suitable for intense arcs but not full career portrait.
Brendan Gleeson — 10/1
Prestige alternative; gravitas and emotional range for reflective elder Ferguson or framing device.
Roy Keane – Casting Odds
Éanna Hardwicke — 1/2 (Odds-on)
Already proven he can channel Keane’s intensity; terrifyingly convincing. Feels done.
Jack O’Connell — 5/1
Too explosive; lacks Keane’s icy, controlled menace.
Barry Keoghan — 10/1
Too unconventional; wrong physicality.
David Beckham – Casting Odds
Richard Madden — 6/4 (Favourite)
Mercurio favorite with matinee looks; believable global icon. Most realistic lead.
Harris Dickinson — 5/2
Younger, fashion-credible; strong challenger for early/teen Beckham.
Leo Woodall — 8/1
Rising actor with charm, but lacks Beckham’s iconic weight.
Brooklyn Beckham — 12/1 (Curveball / Publicity Pick)
Family resemblance and buzz, but no acting credibility; recent family drama could complicate production.
Victoria Beckham – Casting Odds
Nicola Peltz (27) — 2/1 (Favourite)
Polished, fashionable, credible on screen. Strong resemblance to young Victoria, studio-friendly, and age-appropriate.
Emma Mackey (27) — 5/1
Poised, strong screen presence, slightly edgy. Can convey ambition and glamour, fits age range perfectly.
Anya Taylor-Joy (26) — 6/1
Charismatic, striking screen presence, strong acting chops. Slightly stylized compared to real Victoria but very convincing for dramatic interpretation.
Lily James (31) — 8/1
Excellent acting and charm; slightly older but within early-30s range. Good for drama-heavy sequences.
Florence Pugh (27) — 10/1
Strong acting credibility, confident screen presence; may need styling to match Victoria’s fashion silhouette.
Wayne Rooney – Casting Odds
Jack O’Connell — 2/1 (Favourite)
Raw, aggressive, northern grit; perfect for Rooney chaos.
Joe Gilgun — 6/1
Mancunian energy right, but less controlled and precise than Rooney demands.
Paul Scholes – Casting Odds
Josh O’Connor — 3/1 (Favourite)
Quiet intensity, exceptional inner-life acting; perfect for cerebral Scholes.
Thomas Turgoose — 4/1
Northern realism; less polished for cinematic gravitas.
Will Poulter — 6/1
Good acting chops, but wrong vibe; over-expressive for Scholes’ understated style.
Ryan Giggs – Casting Odds
Callum Turner — 5/2 (Favourite)
Athletic elegance, natural screen presence; believable as a winger.
Tom Glynn-Carney — 4/1
Fire and speed, slightly chaotic; good energy but less refined.
Aneurin Barnard — 6/1
Welsh authenticity and intensity, but darker baggage than the role requires.
Rhodri Giggs / Lookalike — 12/1 (Curveball / Publicity Pick)
Family resemblance maximizes authenticity and buzz; limited acting credibility, high-risk for lead role.
Eric Cantona – Playing Himself
Eric Cantona — Evens (1/1, Self-Casting)
Authenticity maxed out; only Cantona can deliver his charisma, swagger, and mystique. Brings lived experience, football brilliance, and natural theatricality.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Casting Odds
Cristo Fernández — 2/1 (Favourite)
Trained actor with football experience; most realistic choice to capture athleticism, public persona, and charisma.
Diego Calva — 6/1
Young and intense; ideal for early-career Ronaldo arcs. Athletic but needs coaching for realistic football scenes.
Tenoch Huerta — 8/1
Powerful presence and intensity; could work for ambition-driven sequences. Slightly taller/darker than Ronaldo but workable with cinematic stylization.
Álvaro Rico (Spain) — 10/1
From Elite, young, athletic, lean; can sell charm and intensity. Strong potential for early-career Ronaldo.
Jorge López (Spain/Chile) — 12/1
Lean, charismatic, proven youth drama/TV background (Elite). Could convey charm and ambition
Alfonso Herrera — 10/1
Smooth, charismatic; suitable for dramatized off-field life, but less convincing physically for football-heavy sequences.
*Odds are for entertainment use only
