The Agency's Posts

NBC confirms Jimmy Fallon will replace Jay Leno in 2014: Ending weeks of gossip and speculation, NBC confirmed thatJimmy Fallonwill succeedJay Lenoas....
Read More>

'Game of Thrones' renewed for fourth season: While its future wasn't in much doubt, fans of HBO's lavish fantasy series"Game of Thrones&
Read More>

Justin Timberlake tops album chart with 968,000 copies sold: He didn't quite hit the million-sold mark, though he came awfully close. Capping a....
Read More>

'Croods,' 'Olympus' rise at box office. CBS eyes TV Guide Network.: After the coffee. Before the matzo ball soup. The Skinny:I'm in D.C. forPassover, and it....
Read More>

Review: 'Olympus Has Fallen' a remix of standard action fare: Antoine Fuqua's White House-under-siege thriller doesn't add anything new to the genre, and....
Read More>

'Phil Spector,' on trial: HBO's movie about the record producer's murder trials distorts the truth and serves only to....
Read More>

Review: Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience': It’s not hard to figure out whyJustin Timberlakehas been pushing an old-school vibe in....
Read More>

MGM plans for a new Bond movie 'within three years': MGMStudios plans to send James Bond on his next mission sooner than later, announcing Wednesday....
Read More>

'Burt Wonderstone': Has Carell made the most of post-'Office' life?: Steve Carellleft “The Office” for the same reason most actors do: to concentrate....
Read More>

'Spring Breakers' has virtues in its vices, critics say: Despite the initial shock over alt-film provocateurHarmony Korineteaming up with....
Read More>

Gerard Butler on Sacrificing His Life, Declining the '300' Sequel and His ... Bar Mitzvah: Gerard Butlerhas seen these kind of odds before. The Scottish actor stars in the March 22....
Read More>

Comedian Dave Chappelle resurfaces and speculation begins anew: After joking with Chris Rock about a possible tour at a recent stop at New York's Comedy Cellar,....
Read More>
Anthony Mackie-Sugar Ray Leonard bromance blooms
Posted on: 10/09/11
Share/Save/Bookmark
 

A big Hollywood production can make for strange bedfellows. "Real Steel," the Hugh Jackman fighting-robot movie that opens this weekend, made a truly odd one: it cemented a bond between Sugar Ray Leonard and Jackman co-star Anthony Mackie.
 
How did the classically trained actor and world-champion boxer come to meet? Leonard was training "Steel" star Hugh Jackman and choreographing the film’s robot fights when the two struck up a relationship.
 
“After talking to him, he’s kind of one of the nicest guys that you would think about punching you in the face over and over again,” Mackie told 24 Frames at the “Real Steel” premiere on Sunday. (You can watch video of the interview below.)
 
The actor also read Leonard’s memoir, “The Big Fight," and it made him realize that the boxer’s life would make "an amazing movie" in which he'd like to star.
 
Leonard, who has had a bit of an on-screen career himself (he appeared as himself in “The Fighter” last year, for instance), returned the favor by endorsing a Mackie portrayal. “That would be awesome," he said.
 
Mackie has spent the past five years developing a film about another iconic black athlete, Jesse Owens. Though the project may not be making its way to the big screen at the speed of an Olympic sprinter, Mackie still has hopes for the project, calling Jonathan Demme his "dream" director.
 
Mackie, who has expressed frustration before about the scarcity of roles for black actors in Hollywood, is hoping an independent film like the Owens biopic could allow him greater freedom than a conventional Hollywood production. Known for indie roles in films such as "Half Nelson" and "The Hurt Locker," Mackie is taking a step into a studio realm: in addition to "Steel," he has roles in upcoming big-budget pictures such as  “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” and “Gangster Squad.”



COMMENTS
Be the first to post a comment!


Post A Comment:




  • It's 2020! Start booking roles in commercials, fashion, films, theater and more with The Agency Online!

  • NEW WORKSHOP with Barbara Barna & Sean De Simone!

    Hi Everyone and Happy Summer! Sean at Sean De Simone casting and Barbara Barna are teaming up for a super informative and fun Hosting for Home Shopping workshop. A great opportunity for established or experienced TV Hosts and Experts interested in learning how to get noticed and how to get in....
  • MASTERCLASS W. Robin Carus & David John Madore

    A Special Offer for the Agency Community, from one of our favorite NYC Casting Directors! EMAIL FacetheMusicWithUs@gmail.com Or Eventbrite To Sign Up! Class Size is Limited.
  • Don't Fall Into The Comparison Trap

    Hi Everyone! As the second installment in an ongoing series of features by the Agency's amazing community, here's some sage advice from our own Regina Rockensies; a humble (& awesome)veteran we've had the pleasure of working with for a long time. Have an excellent week! : ) - The Agency....
  • One Model's Agreement

    Hi Everyone! As the first piece in an ongoing series of original articles by the Agency community, here's a short reflection on some of the values of professional acting & modeling that we can all keep in mind for our next casting. Good luck on your castings &shoots this week! : ) -....




 
home       castings&news       privacy policy       terms and conditions      contact us      browser tips
Official PayPal Seal