Hulu Orders a Mike Tyson Biopic Series Titled IRON MIKE and Mike Tyson Isn't Happy About It
Iconic boxer Mike Tyson is getting a biopic series titled Iron Mike. The series will be coming to Hulu and they’ve ordered an eight-episode series.
The project is being written by Steven Rogers and directed by Craig Gillespie. This is the same creative team who previously made the Margot Robbie film I, Tonya. I liked how they handled that film and the story of Tanya Harding, so I imagine the way they tell the story of Mike Tyson will be just as entertaining.
Margot Robbie is also an executive producer in the film with Mixed-ish’s Karin Gist serving as showrunner and executive producer.
The series will explore the wild, tragic and controversial life and career of heavyweight champion Mike Tyson – one of the most polarizing figures in sports culture.
Tyson is widely considered one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time and was the undisputed champion between 1987 and 1990, claiming his first belt at the age of 20, the youngest boxer to win a heavyweight title.
He was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison in 1992 and regained his title after he was released in 1995, but lost his title to Evander Holyfield, who he would later bite a portion of his ear off in their 1997 rematch.
After his retirement, he would go on to star in The Hangover films, starred in his own reality series Taking on Tyson for Animal Planet that documented him competing in pigeon racing and created the Scooby Doo-esque animated series Mike Tyson Mysteries for Adult Swim.
Mike Tyson has always been quite a character, and it’ll be interesting to see how this series plays with his personality and the life he’s led.
Mike Tyson isn’t too thrilled about the project and is calling it “Cultural Misappropriation.” So, he’s decided to develop a rival project. He shared the following on Instagram:
Hulu's announcement to do an unauthorized mini-series of the Tyson story without compensation, although unfortunate, isn't surprising. This announcement on the heels of social disparities in our country is a prime example of how Hulu's corporate greed led to this tone-deaf cultural misappropriation of the Tyson life story. To make this announcement during Black History Month only confirms Hulu's concern for dollars over respect for black story rights. Hollywood needs to be more sensitive to black experiences especially after all that has transpired in 2020. The real Mike Tyson authorized story is in development and will be announced in coming days. Hulu to announce stealing a black athletes story during Black History month couldn't be more inappropriate or tone deaf.
Source: Deadline