If boxing heavyweights Rocky Balboa and and "Raging Bull" Jake LaMotta were to meet in their prime, who would win? Obviously, that's a question we could never know the answer to since one is completely fictional, but the thought of the men who embodied those characters on screen duking it out in a film was one that had me and plenty of others very excited two years ago. It was back in 2010 when we first learned about Grudge Match, which was rumored to have Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro as two aging boxers who plan one final fight against each other, 50 years after their first epic clash. It's Raging Bull vs. Rocky. What's not to love? Unfortunately we didn't hear much about it since, but now it looks like Stallone and De Niro are finally ready to step into the squared circle.
The Wrap reports that both actors are in negotiations to star, with production to kick off early next year. Peter Segal(Get Smart) will direct, with Entourage co-creator Doug Ellin providing the latest version of the script. Segal doesn't inspire much confidence behind the camera, but Ellin is a smart writer who knows the comical ins and outs of celebrity, so if he can weave some of that into this story it could be a major win.
One thing that's new to me is that this is being billed as a comedy, which makes me even more excited for it. Some of my favorite comedies have been centered on the sweet science of boxing, such as The Great White Hype and Play It To the Bone. With Stallone and De Niro obviously playing off their most iconic roles, this could possibly be better than both.
