For years, Jamie Foxx has said he will play Mike Tyson in a biopic, and finally we have some details on the upcoming project.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Antoine Fuqua has agreed to direct the project, which was previously discussed as a movie, but will instead be created as a limited series. Fuqua’s extensive resume includes upcoming HBO doc The Day Sports Stood Still, box office hits The Equalizer and Training Day. In addition to Fuqua, Martin Scorsese of Goodfellas and Raging Bull also signed on to be part of the executive producing team.
And most importantly, Tyson has signed off on the project, this after previously taking to Instagram to bash an eight-episode biopic on his life from Hulu.
“I have been looking to tell my story for quite some time,” Tyson said in a statement. “With the recent launch of Legends Only League and the excitement from fans following my return to the ring, now feels like the perfect moment. I look forward to collaborating with Martin, Antoine, Jamie and the entire creative team to bring audiences a series that not only captures my professional and personal journey but also inspires and entertains.”
Last year, during an episode of Catching Up with Mark Birnbaum, Foxx showed off how he was transforming his body to mirror Tyson.
This is a project that’s been in the works for the better part of a decade. In 2015, Foxx offered a detailed description of how he pictures the film’s opening scene during an interview with Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning.
The series will “span the life” of Tyson, and although it doesn’t have a landing spot yet, the project will be shopped to various networks and streaming services.