Everyone is surprised at the announcement that Patrick Swayze is to star in the sequel to Point Break – not least the cancer-stricken actor himself.

W. Peter Illiff, who wrote the screenplay for the original 1991 surfing movie, has penned a second instalment, and insists Swayze will return as the bank-robbing surfer Bodhi. He also says Keanu Reeves will return to play the FBI agent sent to track him down. He told US Weekly:

“We always wanted Patrick to return. He’ll definitely be surfing.”

Surfing, you say. Now that’s some comeback for a star who was only recently given months to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. But Illif added:

“Things are going well, he’s fighting the good fight.”

Well, that’s all very well, and, after all, no one puts Swayze in the corner. But it certainly is news to Swayze himself, who revealed in a statement that, though he is responding well to treatment, rumours of a him taking part in Point Break 2 are slightly wide of the mark.

These pampered Hollywood stars!