Michael Owen spotted in Egypt to star in new movie despite claiming he HATES films and has only watched eight of them

MICHAEL OWEN has been spotted in Egypt as he turns to the big screen to star in a top-10 highest grossing film.

The 44-year-old’s surprise acting role in football movie “El Hareefa 2” comes 10 years after Owen first claimed that he “HATED films”.

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A picture on X emerged on Wednesday which showed Owen in Cairo – with a big smile across his face – as he prepares for his special appearance.

Footie fans soon uncovered the film’s poster – which showed the last English Ballon d’Or winner front and centre.

“El Harefa 2” serves as a sequel to the original “El Hareefa'” which hit the screens earlier this year. 

The plot for that film, as per IMDb’s 6.4 rating, centred around teenage football lover Maged and his transition from private school to a public one – and his adventures in their street football team. 

Interestingly, this shock pivot into the film scene comes a decade after Owen openly stated his disdain for the cinema.

In 2014, Owen wrote on X: “Watched my eighth ever film on the flight home. Must have been bored. #HateFilms.”

On the same day, he also posted: “Films I’ve been forced to watch: Rocky, Heat, Ghost, Jurassic Park, Cool Runnings, Seabiscuit, Karate Kid, Forest Gump”.

But this marks Owen’s second foray into film, having made a brief cameo in the 2007 cult classic “Goal II: Living the Dream”.

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The former Real Madrid, Liverpool and Man Utd star reportedly arrived in the Egyptian capital on November 4.

The original was among the top 10 highest-grossing films in Egyptian cinema this year.

“El Harefa 2” will be premiered in Egyptian cinemas on December 4 and in Arab cinemas on December 5.

Owen began his tourist trip by visiting prominent archaeological landmarks such as the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza.

Since retiring in 2013, the former Prem star has become a well known face within the sport of horse racing as a breeder and owner. 

He set up the Manor House Stables in Malpas and one of his horses, Zoffee, won the Chester Cup, a £170,000 handicap race, in May.

Owen is still a familiar face for football fans thanks to his appearances as a pundit on TNT Sports. 

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