Pierce Brosnan has been cast in the upcoming biopic on boxing British-Yemeni pugilist Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed, ‘Giant’.
Amir El-Masry will also star in the sporting drama that tells the story of Prince Naseem’s rags-to-riches ascent to a World Championship under the tutelage of his Irish-born boxing trainer Brendan Ingle. El-Masry will play Naz, and Brosnan is set to portray Ingle.
The movie will tell the true story of Hamed’s humble beginnings on the tough working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Ingle, himself a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership along with Naz’ unorthodox style, cocky persona and sheer dominance in the ring, propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite and unprecedented levels of global superstardom, all in the face of the rampant Islamophobia and racism of 80’s and 90’s Britain.
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Rowan Athale (The Rise, Gangs of London, Strange But True) has written the project and will also take the helm. It’s produced by Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions and Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions, it was announced today by AGC Chairman and CEO Stuart Ford, who will also produce.
On board to executive produce are Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions, AGC Studios’ Miguel Palos and Zach Garrett, BondIt’s Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor and Tyler Gould, Michael Ewing and True Brit’s Zygi Kamasa.
