Shoot a Pope, Get a Hollywood Contract

Why am I not surprised by this:

A Hollywood film company has struck an $8 million deal with the man who shot Pope John Paul II, according to the Italian news weekly Gente.

Mehmet Ali Agca, who was released from an Istanbul jail last week, already has received a $500,000 advance from an unidentified company to make a film explaining how and why he carried out the 1981 attack, says his bodyguard, Haydar Mengi.

The pope nearly died after he was shot twice by Agca while greeting crowds at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square. The Turkish gunman immediately was arrested and later sentenced by an Italian court to life in prison. John Paul famously visited Agca in prison two years later and forgave him.

Mengi said Agca had gone into hiding to finalize the negotiations, which is why he didn't sign in at his local police station as required.

"As part of the deal, Agca must give a full interview about what happened leading up to the shooting and the shooting itself and he will also play himself in the movie," Mengi said. "Other terms of the contract ban Agca from giving interviews and he must keep out of trouble."

I fully expect him to be a presenter at the Oscars this year.

UPDATE: Er, maybe not.