The Agency's Posts

NEW FILM PREMIER TONIGHT! BUILDING HOPE: Turk Pipkin's new filmBuilding Hopewill have a NY Premiere at the Tribeca Cinemas on Monday, July....
Read More>

Amy Winehouse: An Appreciation: Who couldn’t be drawn to the soulful singer, with her honesty, devil-may-care attitude and....
Read More>

Kristin Scott Thomas: From 'movie star' to 'actress': The British actress has a movie coming out about French Jews in 1942 and is starring on London's....
Read More>

Ricky Gervais: "Give Emmy to Carell".: Add Ricky Gervais to the long list of Emmy watchers who believe Steve Carell should finally,....
Read More>

Heroes.. and Duds: Among the highlights are appearances by Steven Spielberg and 'Tintin,' new Spider-Man Andrew....
Read More>

Captain America: Square-jawed superheroSteve Rogerslays strangely immobile in the bowels of an enormous “su
Read More>

Charlie Sheen to star in new 'Anger Management' sitcom: It's official: Charlie Sheen has found a new sitcom. Now all he needs is a network to air it.....
Read More>

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' box office: "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" broke the opening-weekend....
Read More>

Television review: 'Roseanne's Nuts' on Lifetime: Wednesday night viewers can tune into a reality show about an outspoken, controversial,....
Read More>

Horrible Bosses: Review: You can practically hear little coils of contempt tightening insideJason Batemanevery time he's....
Read More>

Arnold Schwarzenegger will make a new stand: There had been rumors for several weeks that Arnold Schwarzeneger was dipping his toe back in....
Read More>

Is James Franco honest or tiring?: We're closer to the next award season than to the last one. But James Franco still has the....
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