7:52am Monday 1st March 2010
By Lauren Pyrah
AN expat who auctioned his life on eBay says he has secured a deal with Disney to tell his story.
The company has reportedly paid North-East-born Ian Usher an undisclosed sum for a retainer on his life story.
Darlington-born Mr Usher, who emigrated to Australia in 2002, made headlines worldwide when he put his sun-drenched life, including house, car, job and even friends, up for sale on the internet auction site, in March 2008.
The 46-year-old took the plunge because he wanted a fresh start following the breakdown of his marriage.
Disney offered Mr Usher, who was educated at Barnard Castle School, in County Durham, a timelimited option on his Life4Sale story, believed to be worth tens of thousands of pounds.
It is unclear whether the company will renew the arrangement when the time limit ends.
Following the Life4Sale project, Mr Usher has started a project called 100 Weeks, 100 Goals, which includes an ambition to raise £25,000 for a bowel cancer charity in memory of his late father.
Speaking from South Africa, where he is currently completing Goal 80, Mr Usher told The Northern Echo: “There was some movie interest. Disney actually purchased an option on the Life4Sale story.
“I think it would be great to have a movie made about something I did.
“I had a hilarious conversation with one producer, who said, ‘We see this story as a Tom Hanks-type of romcom’.
“‘No no’, I said, trying not to laugh. ‘I more imagined George Clooney playing me’.
“Without picking up on any of the humour in my voice, she said seriously, ‘Yes, we could possibly make that happen’.”
He said the 100 Goals, 100 Weeks project was on target, with 79 goals achieved at the end of 81 weeks, and goal 80 in progress.
Goals completed so far have included bungee jumping in France, plunging 40ft under the ocean off the coast of Italy and being splattered with tomatoes in a world-famous free-for-all fruit fight in Valencia, in Spain.
Also on the list is driving a car off a jetty, nude sky diving and meeting Richard Branson.
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