Boxing champ Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed is getting the sports biopic treatment. Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud are aboard to star in Giant.
With The Rise's Rowan Athale writing and directing, the film will follow the true story of Hamed’s (Massoud) humble beginnings on the tough working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Brendan Ingle (Considine), a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership along with Naz’ unorthodox style, cocky persona and dominance in the ring propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite, all in the face of Islamophobia and racism.
And Athale is excited that a certain Sylvester Stallone, who has some experience with boxing movies, is among the producers. "The story of fabled boxing trainer Brendan Ingle and his tempestuous relationship with protege ‘Prince’ Naseem is both legendary, and truly cinematic,” he says. "It’s exciting, necessary, hilarious, and heartbreaking, and to be making this movie with the incomparable Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud, and with the support of the one and only Sylvester Stallone and his Balboa Productions team, is a dream come true."
