The previous problems faced by long-developing boxing drama Southpaw are well-documented. It began as a project for Eminem to star in, and has a few directors circling it. But the film began to pick up steam when Jake Gyllenhaal was confirmed for the lead role and Antoine Fuqua, who had been on board before, settling in to the director's chair. And now it's time to start putting the rest of the cast together.
Deadline reports that Rachel McAdams is being eyed for the female lead with Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o (still kind of in the mix for a Star Wars role) in a supporting role. Conceived by Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy), the story follows a leftie welterweight boxer who must overcome adversity to fight his way to the title. At the same time he'll try to win back the love of his daughter. Forest Whitaker is set to play Gyllenhaal's trainer, with Nyong'o as a social worker caring for his child.
We'll see where this goes, but first Richard Wenk (The Equalizer) needs to finish rewriting the script.
