Ang Lee’s Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier 3D Boxing Film in Development
Ang Lee has been working on developing a 3D film based around the historic boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier that is known as the Thrilla In Manila. The project was originally set up at Universal Pictures after he won the Best Director Oscar for his work on Life of Pi. The film's development ended up falling apart, but now it’s making a comeback!
The film will offer audiences an "epic look at the boxing world of the 1960s and 1970s, as seen through the prism of its biggest rivalries and greatest fights.” The film will also put the focus on other boxers from that era, such as George Foreman, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, Robert Duran, and Sugar Ray Leonard.
According to the Deadline, Lee is scouting locations and is looking for this film to be his next project. He just finished shooting the big screen adaptation of the novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk for Sony Pictures. He shot the film in 120 frames per second, as well as in 3D.
Lee is pushing the boundaries of filmmaking technology, and he’s looking to continue doing that with this boxing movie. Peter Morgan (Rush) wrote the initial script for the film, and the project is set up at Studio 8 where Jeff Robinov will produce the project.
This could end up being an amazing filmgoing experience. I'm looking forward to seeing how exactly he takes audiences into the boxing ring with this filmmaking technology, and how he brings these boxing legends to life. This could be just as awesome an experience as Robert Zemeckis’ The Walk was. I think that’s hands down the best 3D film ever made so far.