The man who tried to kill Pope John Paul II has walked out of Turkish prison and into an $8 million film deal: Pope’s failed assassin to star in film of attack. (Hat tip: Chicken Kiev.)

MEHMET Ali Agca, the man who shot Pope John Paul II, has struck a £4.5 million deal to make a Hollywood film explaining how and why he carried out the 1981 attack, according to an interview with his friend and bodyguard published yesterday.

Agca, 48, has already been given an advance of £280,000 by the unidentified film company which has secured the exclusive rights to tell his story and finally reveal his motivation, according to a report in an Italian news magazine.

The Pope was left fighting for his life after the Turkish gunman shot him twice as he greeted crowds in the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square in May 1981.

Details of the film deal emerged in an interview Haydar Mengi had given to the news weekly Gente.

Mr Mengi explained that Agca - who was released from an Istanbul jail last week - had gone into hiding to finalise the negotiations. The bodyguard explained: “Agca has already received $500,000 as an advance on the $8 million deal. It was because of the negotiations that Agca went into hiding last week and did not sign on at his local police station as he should have.

“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. Other terms of the contract ban Agca from giving interviews and he must keep out of trouble.”