Jamie Foxx to portray Mike Tyson in biopic
Oscar award-winning actor Jamie Foxx has been attached to portray boxer Mike Tyson in an as yet titled biopic.
Variety reports that the project is still coming together and remains without a studio, but with the fascinating life story of Tyson and the A-list integrity of Foxx as the lead there should be no trouble finding an eager distributor.
Terence Winter is set to pen the script while Foxx’s manager, Rick Yorn, is overseeing the project and will produce.
Tyson’s life story, if told well, should make for a compelling film. When he burst on to the scene in the ’80s, destroying opponents in the ring while creating a massive buzz outside of the ropes, Tyson became one of the most popular and polarizing figures in sports history.
When he lost his title in a shocking upset to James Buster Douglas in 1990 his life began to fall apart. He ended up spending 6 years in prison after being convicted of the rape of Desiree Washington.
In an attempted comeback, he infamously chewed off a portion of Evander Hoylfield’s ear.
Since retiring, Tyson has had to cope with the death of his daughter and in 2012 released a memoir “Undisputed Truth” that made the New York Times bestseller list.
Photo: WENN
