July 28, 2010 13:00

Michael Sheen to star in Manic Street Preachers video

Nicky Wire says band are 'thrilled' to recruit actor

Photo Gallery: Manic Street Preachers
Photo: Andy Willsher

Actor Michael Sheen is set to star in Manic Street Preachers' video for new single '(It's Not War) Just The End Of Love', bassist Nicky Wire has said.

The actor has portrayed Tony Blair in 2006 film The Queen and Brian Clough in 2009's The Damned United, and guest starred in the latest series of hit sitcom 30 Rock.

For his next role he is apparently set to portray Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov in the clip for the band's new single.

"It looks like Michael Sheen is gonna be in the video, which we're really thrilled about," Wire told NME. "We've tried to recreate the classic '70s chess match between Kasparov and [Bobby] Fischer. That's the kind of vibe behind it. It's real '70s Russia – just that idea of 'it's not war, just the end of love', I think a chess game really fits that."

Wire added: "It's a really serious intellectual game but, you know, it's not World War Three. Although the cold war chess games were kind of like wars played out on a chess board. Me and James [Dean Bradfield] have come up with the idea for it."

Manic Street Preachers release '(It's Not War) Just The End Of Love' on September 13, a week ahead of new album 'Postcards From A Young Man'.

Get this week's issue of NME for an exclusive interview with Wire on the new album, it's on UK newsstands now, or available digitally worldwide.

See the NME Reviews Blog for an exclusive first listen report of the album.