Martin Scorsese to direct a Mike Tyson biopic starring Jamie Foxx
Famed director Martin Scorsese is stepping back into the boxing biopic ring with an upcoming film about former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Scorsese, who's responsible for the definitive boxing biopic, Raging Bull, chronicling the life and career of Jake LaMotta, is reportedly set to direct Jamie Foxx in the titular role.
"I just went in with Paramount with Mike Tyson," Foxx told Power 106's The Breakfast Club on Thursday, according to CBS Sports' Sean Wagner-McGough. "So I'm going to do the Mike Tyson story. Listen, to be in the same room pitching Mike Tyson to Paramount, Mike Tyson is on one side, I'm on the other side and doing Mike Tyson at the same time. And Martin Scorsese at the helm. This will be the first boxing movie that Martin Scorsese has done since Raging Bull."
A former WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, Tyson terrorized the division in his early years, amassing a 37-0 record before falling to Buster Douglas in what is considered one of the greatest upsets in the history of professional sports. As his career continued, Tyson had numerous run-ins with the law, and famously bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear during a bout in 1997.
Tyson finished his professional career with a 50-6-0 (two no contests) record.