Anthony Hopkins Will Play Mike Tyson's Trainer Cus D’Amato in CUS AND MIKE
Anthony Hopkins is set to star in a new boxing film project titled Cus And Mike. Hopkins will be taking on the role of Mike Tyson’s legendary trainer Cus D’Amato, and the story will follow how he “molded the fighter into becoming the youngest heavyweight title winner ever and one of the most ferocious boxers of his generation.”
The film is said to be a character study as well as a sports-biopic based on the book Mike Tyson: Money, Myth, and Betrayal by Montieth Illingworth. It will be written and directed by The Notebook and John Q filmmaker Nick Cassavetes. In a statement, he said:
“This is an absolute dream scenario for me. An opportunity to work with Sir Anthony in a movie about two of my all-time heroes, Cus D’Amato and Mike Tyson, the most ferocious (and my favorite) fighter who ever lived? In a story about father figures that disappear too soon? I’m in heaven. So happy that my first film with Mike Mendelsohn and Patriot Pictures is this one. It should be one for the ages…”
According to the report, the film will “chart how the tough but brilliant D’Amato became a father-figure to the wayward adolescent Tyson who would go on to become the revered fighter and then a figure of controversy.” D’Amato passed away in 1985, and he also trained Floyd Patterson and José Torres.
A few actors and directors have tried to get this project off the ground over the years including Martin Scorsese, Jamie Foxx, and Bruce Willis. This will be a great role for Hopkins to play. It’s pretty cool that they were able to get him for the role.
XYZ Films and Patriot Patriot Pictures are producing the film and they are aiming to shoot in spring/summer 2020.
Source: Deadline