southpaw
Watch How Jake Gyllenhaal Transforms Into The Lead Role For Boxing Drama, SOUTHPAW!
From director Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY) and writers Kurt Sutter (SONS OF ANARCHY) and Richard Wenk (THE MECHANIC) comes SOUTHPAW – the story of Billy “The Great” Hope, Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World. When tragedy strikes and he loses it all, Billy enters the battle of his life as he struggles to become a contender once again and win back those he loves.
SOUTHPAW Gets An Extended TV Spot
From director Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY) and writers Kurt Sutter (SONS OF ANARCHY) and Richard Wenk (THE MECHANIC) comes SOUTHPAW – the story of Billy “The Great” Hope, Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World. When tragedy strikes and he loses it all, Billy enters the battle of his life as he struggles to become a contender once again and win back those he loves.
SOUTHPAW Gets A Release Date
It seems these are trying times for the current preproduction of David Ayer‘s new anti-hero superflick, Suicide Squad as actor Jake Gyllenhaal has since declined to replace Tom Hardy for the role of Rick Flagg among the all-star cast. No need for worry though if boxing dramas are more your speed and you’re eager to see the actor in something real soon, because his newest film, Southpaw is on the way, directed by Antoine Fuqua following stellar theatrical run with The Equalizer last September.
Written by Kurt Sutter and Richard Wenk, Gyllenhaal plays Billy Hope, a young, cocky middleweight champion whose promising career and life as a family man are cut short when tragedy strikes, throwing him in a downward spiral with only the help of an amateur trainer with demons of his own, to help him get back on his feet. Much to the film’s credit, Gyllenhaal‘s previous performance in last year’s Nightcrawler has gained him some ample recognition which should undoubtedly make Southpaw a contender considering how much the actor immersed himself in this particular role, and if you’ve seen the photo, it clearly shows.
As such, Deadline is reporting the film’s official release now set for July 31, 2015 courtesy of The Weinstein Company. Gyllenhaal will be joined by actor Forest Whitaker and actress Rachel McAdams along with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Rita Ora, Naomie Harris and Victor Ortiz co-star. Stay tuned for more info^
Victor Ortiz Joins Antoine Fuqua's SOUTHPAW
Director Antoine Fuqua has just begun filming his latest boxing drama in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for The Weinstein Company titled Southpaw, and this week brings the start of a second significant step forward in acting with a co-starring role for former boxing champion and The Expendables 3 co-star, Victor Ortiz. The film is written by Richard Wenk and Sons Of Anarchy series creator Kurt Sutter, and casts Ortiz as “Ramone”, fellow up-and-coming boxer whose story will be attributed somewhat similarly to Ortiz‘s own life story leading up to his career as a WBC Welterweight champion until earlier this year.
Ortiz joins lead Prisoners co-star, actor Jake Gyllenhaal who himself leads the film as “Billy Hope”, a welterweight boxer rising in the ranks while his while his personal life falls apart. Actress Rachel McAdams and Star Wars VII cast member, award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, and actors Forest Whitaker and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson round out the current cast. The film was initially announced last year with hip-hop artist and actor Eminem as the lead before newly casting Gyllenhaal back in March.
Ortiz will appear in the upcoming theatrical release of The Expendables 3 from director Patrick Hughes on August 15 from Lionsgate. Meanwhile, Fuqua, has other films in the works, including Narco Sub from a script by David Guggenheim, a hopeful sequel to Wenk’s script for actor Denzel Washington’s upcoming appearance in the September 26, 2014 release of The Equalizer based on the original TV series, and the forthcoming theatrical remake production of The Magnificent Seven.
Stay tuned!
H/T: Deadline