The Agency's Posts

The Cult of Physicality: Lisa Twight, an owner of Gym Jones in Salt Lake City, watched Robert MacDonald, the gym’s....
Read More>

Toronto Film Festival: Director talks opening night U2 doc: When U2’s “Achtung Baby” debuted in November 1991, it was the culmination....
Read More>

'Moneyball' comes to bat after lineup changed midgame: An inside-baseball account of the struggle to make the story of general manager Billy Beane....
Read More>

J.K. Simmons can do it all: IfJ.K. Simmonswere a criminal, he'd be a repeat offender. But as a character actor who often....
Read More>

Eastwood's 'J. Edgar,' starring DiCaprio, to open AFI Fest: Sight unseen, Clint Eastwood's upcoming J. Edgar Hoover biopic has already been deemed a best....
Read More>

Eddie Murphy named host of 84th Academy Awards: The rumors became a reality Tuesday: Eddie Murphy will host the 84th Academy Awards, which....
Read More>

The Directors: Steven Soderbergh, 'Contagion': The award winner works with screenwriter Scott Z. Burns to get at the heart of how people rise to....
Read More>

Is a Facebook music service launching in September?: Facebook may be planning to launch an online music service of its own at itsF8developer....
Read More>

Can Lady Gaga squash Oprah and Pee-wee Herman at the Emmys?: Can Lady Gaga continue her march toward global domination by conquering Bette Midler, Paul....
Read More>

Settling a Score, and Matters of Manhood, on Behalf of Rock Royalty: The Rolling Stones’ “Bigger Bang” album included a song called“Oh No,....
Read More>

Movie review: 'Colombiana': Zoe Saldana is a lean, mean killing machine in this fun revenge thriller. When a director....
Read More>

Movie review: 'Our Idiot Brother': Paul Rudd's delightful fool carries the amiable, underachieving comedy. You can thankPaul....
Read More>

Tim Burton: Looking back: Tim Burton turns 53 today and this year also marks the 40th anniversary of his creepy film &ldqu
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