Though the project has been on the mat more than once, boxing drama Southpaw is following Chumbawamba's advice by getting knocked down, but getting up again. The Wrap reports that Jake Gyllenhaal is now in talks to star.
Olympus Has Fallen director Antoine Fuqua is still attached to direct the film, which, if he actually signs on to star, will see Gyllenhaal as a left-handed pugilist who wins a big title, but suffers a tragedy shortly afterwards. With his life in tatters, he must piece everything back together to earn the respect of his young daughter.
Eminem was originally going to star when the film was first announced back in 2010, but has dropped off along the way. DreamWorks originally set the project up and hired Sons Of Anarchy showrunner Kurt Sutter to bash out a script, and then shoved it into turnaround. MGM stepped in to snatch it, intending to put it out under the company’s deal with Sony, but nothing happened. Now The Weinstein Company is looking to step into the ring at last. With luck, it’ll be shooting next year.
Gyllenhaal was last on our screens in Prisoners and has Enemy awaiting a UK release date. He’s currently filming journalism drama Nightcrawler and is attached to one of the two Everest-focused movies currently scaling the cliffs of development.