MSNBC is reporting that Oscars hopeful Mickey Rourke, star of "The Wrestler," is "about to get in the ring in real life." Could that hurt his bout in the Oscar ring by making him look ridiculous? It's one thing to perform those wild stunts while taking on a dramatic role in a Darren Aronofsky film. It's something else to take gladiatorial wrestling as seriously as its lughead fans.

Appearing on the red carpet at last night's SAG Awards, Mickey Rourke told Access Hollywood, "The boys from the WWE called me and asked me to do it. I said, 'I want to.' I’m talking with [WWE legend] Rowdy Roddy Piper about it." As per the report, Rourke would be participating in WWE’s Wrestlemania 25 in Houston on April 5 and he already has his opponent in mind: "Chris Jericho, you better get in shape, because I’m coming after your ...”"

For Mickey Rourke, "The nicest thing has been the whole wrestling community embracing us. The movie was about their world." While that may well be, he would do well to remember the misstep taken by Eddie Murphy two years ago. That bad boy of Hollywood was riding high with wins for his tour de force performance in "Dreamgirls," but the February release of "Norbit" made Oscar voters wonder about his true talent. They ended up giving the supporting-actor trophy to veteran Alan Arkin ("Little Miss Sunshine"). And all Murphy was left with was a record three acting Razzie Awards for "Norbit."

Photo: Fox Searchlight