World-known octopus Paul to star in a movie

The octopus that shot to fame with its incredibly accurate predictions of World Cup match results is to set to become a legend of the silver screen. Filming of the black comedy, The Murder of Paul the Octopus, has already finished in South Africa and post-production work is well under way.

Producers the China Film Group Corporation and Beijing Filmblog Media Company have set their sights on an August release. Paul, who has gone into retirement, was not available to star in the movie so the director used a body double. The makers say the film will focus on Paul's amazing winning streak and explore "how the octopus acquires the ability and discuss his possible fates".

They would not reveal the ending, although the title suggests a less than happy outcome for the eight-legged soothsayer.Paul, who comes from England but now resides in a German zoo, has acquired iconic status in China where football and gambling are national obsessions.

The Shanghai World Expo has issued a special Paul stamp while online shopping giant Taobao.com now sells a whole range of octopus-themed merchandise from toys to T-shirts.

Wang Shu, a Taobao vendor, said: "Since Paul became extremely popular among soccer fans as well as some stylish young people."

"I have sold more than 50 octopus-shaped tissue boxes a day, each priced at eight yuan. Many other products printed with octopus patterns have also proved be a craze, for example tablecloths, tableware and cushions."

Street vendors in Beijing say the price of octopus has soared from 40 yuan (£4) per kilogram before the World Cup to 60-65 yuan.

"I can sell at least 50 kilograms in a day. There are some customers buying octopus for pets," said one.

During the World Cup Paul acurately predicted all of of Germany's seven results and that Spain would beat Holland in the final, giving him a 100% record. He made his divinations by choosing a mussel from one of two boxes marked with the flags of two teams about to play one another.


/Sky News/