Boxing drama Southpaw has seen more than a few changes both in front of and behind the camera, but director Anton Fuqua has finally solidified the cast list, and Naomie Harris has now jumped aboard.
Originally developed as an unofficial follow-up to 8 Mile with Eminem playing a boxer, Southpaw has since evolved into a standalone film, with Jake Gyllenhaal as Billy "The Great" Hope, a left-handed pugilist who wins a big title but suffers a tragedy shortly after. With his life in tatters he must piece everything back together to regain the respect of his young daughter. Sons Of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter wrote the original script, though Fuqua has reportedly since brought on Equalizer collaborator Richard Wenk to polish it.
Though Lupita Nyong’o had been in courted to play one of the main roles, Harris will instead step in as Angela, the social worker who aids Gyllenhaal and his offspring. Rachel McAdams made a deal to play Billy’s wife Maureen, while Forest Whitaker is set as Titus “Tick” Willis, who retired from the ring after losing an eye and trains younger fighters. Fuqua is busy cranking the cameras now for a 2015 release.
Harris, last seen in** Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom**, has most recently worked on John Le Carré adaptation **Our Kind Of Traitor **and will be back in the spy world once more when she returns as Eve Moneypenny to the Bond franchise for the 24th instalment.