Bruce Willis to play Mike Tyson trainer Cus D'Amato in new movie

Bruce Willis has signed on to play Cus D'Amato in "Cornerman," a biopic about the legendary boxing trainer, according to Alex Ritman of the Hollywood Reporter.

Set in New York in the 1980s, "Cornerman" tells the story of how D'Amato was introduced to a 13-year-old Mike Tyson after he reluctantly retired from coaching. The role of Tyson has yet to be cast.

"Ultimately, this is a story about a deep love between two ferocious talents, each brave enough to admit their fears to the other, and so spur one another to greatness," said director and writer Rupert Friend, who will make his feature-length directorial debut. "It is a story about fighting for what you believe in, and a film that will make you question what strength really is."

D'Amato died of pneumonia in 1985, a little over a year before Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20 years and 4 months.