Ding ding! Round three! We’ve been following the progress of unlikely old-timers boxing comedy** Grudge Match** since word of the project first surfaced in October 2010. It took until July of this year for Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone to start circling the roles of retired pugilists stepping back into the ring, and yet more time for them to commit and for Warner Bros. to ring the bell to start work on the film.
But ring it has, with Peter Segal still aboard to referee/direct the thing and Think Like A Man’s Kevin Hart now cast as the Don King-style fight promoter who arranges the fight card.
The film’s script, meanwhile, has been beaten into shape (or submission – it remains to be seen which) by Entourage creator Doug Ellin on a screenwriter-for-hire gig.
Our money’s still on Stallone winning this one, even if De Niro may look to go method and do his best to reclaim his Raging Bull form. But given how ripped Stallone is what with the Expendables films and other action movies, he’s got to be the favourite.
There’s no word on when the shoot will kick off, but with everyone now on board, it shouldn’t be too long.