Jake Gyllenhaal underwent a major transformation for his role in Nightcrawler, shedding 30lbs to play the sinister paparazzo. However, he once again looks almost unrecognisable after bulking up for Southpaw.
Southpaw focuses on a left-handed boxer who finally reaches his goal of winning a title, but simultaneously struggles with tragedies in his personal life and finds himself battling to win the affections of his daughter.
Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter penned the script and The Equalizer’s Antoine Fuqua is directing.
“Jake is going to change how people see him,” the director says. “I had him training twice a day in the boxing ring, he did two-a-days seven days a week. I pretty much had him with me and my trainer every day. I took him to almost every fight. I had him train at Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Vegas and we watched Floyd’s fights, and the Manny Pacquiao fight. He trained in New York at Church Gym with real fighters. We literally turned him into a beast… Jake, my god, he’s a very electric, powerful fighter in this movie, and a guy who fights for his daughter. I’m confident that this will change how people see Jake, as a leading man.”
Southpaw also stars 50 Cent, Naomie Harris, Rachel McAdams, Rita Ora, and Forest Whitaker. It’s currently set to be released sometime next year, but The Weinstein Company have yet to announce an exact date.
