What is it with boxing right now? Everyone wants to step into the ring and try their hand – or fist – at the noble art of pugilism. The latest actor signing up to full boxing shorts is Jeremy Renner, who is now attached to play Rocky Marciano in Undefeated.
The boxer who served as one of the inspirations for Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky and is the character’s idol, became famous for being the only heavyweight champion to retire from his professional career without conceding defeat, ending up with an unmatched 49-0 record. Producer Morris S. Levy holds his life rights and has Samuel Franco and Evan Kilgore at work on a script, has attached Renner and is now looking for a director to bring it to life. It joins the long list of current boxing movies including Southpaw and recent success Creed, plus Miles Teller pic Bleed For This, Edgar Ramirez in Hands Of Stone and The Bleeder, which has Liev Schreiber starring as Chuck Wepner and is shooting now.
Renner will be back on Marvel duty for Captain America: Civil War on April 29 and is part of the cast for sci-fi film Story Of Your Life, which has yet to set a release date.