Bruce Willis Will Coach Teen Mike Tyson in 'Cornerman' Biopic

The 'Die Hard' actor will play legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato.

Bruce Willis Mike Tyson
Getty

Image via Getty/Jim Spellman

Bruce Willis Mike Tyson

Action aficionado Bruce Willis is heading to the ring to play Mike Tyson’s legendary trainer in the forthcoming film Cornerman, according toThe Hollywood Reporter. The Die Hard star will assume the role of trainer Constantine "Cus" D'Amato in the film written and directed by Homeland and The Death of Stalin actor Rupert Friend, marking Friend's feature-length directorial debut.

Cornerman is set in 1980s New York and follows the story of how D’Amato went from training some of the biggest boxing champions in the world, including Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres, to helping 13-year-old Tyson. After a friend brings Tyson to the retired trainer’s small gym, D’Amato enrolls the young athlete in order to help mold Tyson's raw, powerful potential into champion-level skills.

The role of Mike Tyson hasn’t been cast.

Photo Removed

“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,” Rupert Friend said in a statement, according to Variety. “It is a story about fighting for what you believe in, and a film that will make you question what strength really is.”

Unfortunately, D'Amato didn’t get a chance to see Tyson make it to the top. The trainer died in 1985, more than a year before Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight title holder in history at the age of 20.

Cornerman will begin shooting in the fall.

In the meantime, Willis is also reportedly working on the sixth installment of the Die Hard franchise.

Latest in Pop Culture