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Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx will play Mike Tyson in a new limited series that will be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who directed the Oscar-winning drama Training Day. Legendary movie director Martin Scorsese is attached as an executive producer.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this project has been in development for a long time as a film, but it’s now being pitched as a limited series. There is no word yet, however, on which TV networks or companies might be interested in signing the series.
“I have been looking to tell my story for quite some time,” Tyson said in a statement. “With the recent launch of Legends Only League and the excitement from fans following my return to the ring, now feels like the perfect moment. I look forward to collaborating with Martin, Antoine, Jamie, and the entire creative team to bring audiences a series that not only captures my professional and personal journey but also inspires and entertains.”
This is not the only new Mike Tyson series in the works, as Hulu is making a show called Iron Mike, which is being made by some of the same talent as I, Tonya. One of the differences between the projects is that Hulu’s is unauthorized while the new one is.
Tyson called Hulu’s show a “tone-deaf cultural misappropriation of my life story.”
Both Scorsese and Joker director Todd Phillips were said to be in the mix to direct the other project, when it was still planned to be a film. However, THR’s sources said Tyson’s team was convinced to move forward with it as a TV series after Hulu’s announcement triggered interest from “major studios.”
Tyson is serving as an executive producer on the new TV series, and THR pointed out that it might be difficult to sell people on the idea that this is an authentic look at Tyson’s life because of that. Tyson is a boxing giant and also a controversial figure. He was found guilty of rape in 1992.
Tyson was said to be gearing up for a return to the ring in a fight against Evander Holyfield, but TMZ Sports broke the news on Monday that Tyson rejected a $25 million payout and is prepared to walk away. The last time the pair fought, Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear.
In addition to fighting, Tyson now operates a marijuana company called Tyson Ranch.
