Mickey Rourke Removing His Front Teeth For Role As Gay Rugby Player?

I have heard of actors loosing weight, gaining weight and going bald, but I have never heard of an actor actually having his teeth taken out for a part. I am sure that this has happened and I am just not aware of it, but regardless that does seem a bit extreme. Then again this is Mickey Rourke we are talking about, so anything is possible.

Rourke is set is interested in bringing  the story Gareth Thomas, the first openly gay rugby player, to the big screen. Because of the 20 year age difference between the actor and athlete, it was assumed he would star as Thomas' father in the film. According to Thomas' agent Emanuele Palladino, Rourke wants to star as Gareth Thomas and he plans to actually remove his two front teeth in order to make the whole thing more realistic since Thomas is also missing his two front teeth.

Palladino had the following to say:

"Mickey wants to film everything in Wales, although it is early days. He really wants to throw himself into Welsh and rugby and really learn as quickly as he can. He'll learn Welsh I think, obviously where it is relevant as well. He is going to get rid of his two front teeth and stuff - he will be taking them out. Mickey intends to get as close to the character as he can, as he thinks it is a great story."

This definitely sounds like a unique story and one that deserves a big screen treatment, but I think Rourke is not a good fit for the part. He was perfect for The Wrestler because it was about an over-the-hill athlete, but the idea of him playing a rugby player who's 20 years younger than him and still active does not make too much sense.

Also, since I began writing this story, my two teeth have been hurting in anticipation of the idea of hom removing his two front teeth for the role.  

What are your thoughts of Rourke playing a toothless younger rugby player?