IT’S NOT just Birmingham and West London feeling the butterflies ahead of the Championship play-off final – excitement is hitting Hollywood too.
Aston Villa tackle Fulham at Wembley on Saturday in the £160million showdown for a spot in the Premier League.
And as fans prepare to hit the capital two stars of the silverscreen have already begun the verbal jousting.
Villa-supporting Tom Hanks, whose movies such as The Green Mile and Sleepless in Seattle have grossed over £6.7bn worldwide, let out an early battle cry via his Twitter account.
The 61-year-old shared an image of the club’s badge along with a message saying: “U.T.V. ! The claret and the blue! My part of America cheers you from afar! Hanx.”
But Fulham follower and fellow Hollywood legend Hugh Grant, famed for his mild-mannered roles in favourites like from hits like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, was quick to hit back.
The 57-year-old from Hammersmith, London replied: “Who are ya?”
Hanks, whose net worth is around £292m, first revealed his love of Steve Bruce’s side back in 2008 while attending the premiere of his film Charlie Wilson’s War.
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The two-time Oscar winner actor revealed he liked Villa’s “old world name” and said: “Aston Villa sounds like a lovely little place… it sounds like a spa.”
Since then he has appeared on the red carpet in London waving a scarf in the club’s colours and he has even got to watch his side in action and meet the players.
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Hanks posed with then-manager Pau Lambert, Fabian Delph and Gabby Agbonlahor before a 2-2 pre-season friendly draw against Portland Timbers in LA in 2012.
British screen star Grant has been a regular at Craven Cottage over the years and even reportedly once upon a time worked there as a groundsman.
He was in attendance for the majority of their European campaign in 2010 and witnessed victories Juventus and Hamburg.
Grant then travelled to German for the final, but his team were unable to beat Atletico Madrid.
It remains unclear whether he will be in attendance on Saturday, but he will certainly be hoping his heroes can help him to claim the bragging rights over Hanks.
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