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Martin Scorsese directing a movie about Mike Tyson's life—you'd watch that, right?
In a recent radio interview on The Breakfast Club, Jamie Foxx revealed that Scorsese will be directing him in an upcoming Mike Tyson biopic. “I just went into Paramount with Mike Tyson,” said Foxx. “I'm going to do the Mike Tyson story... Mike Tyson is on one side, I'm on the other side [with] Martin Scorsese at the helm. This will be the first boxing movie that Martin Scorsese has done since Raging Bull.” From the Dept. of This Sounds Really Awesome, comes the news that Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire, The Wolf of Wall Street) has reportedly signed on as the screenwriter.
Foxx has expressed his desire to play Tyson for a while now, and with Scorsese and Winter both rumored to be behind the project, it's tough to see how this film could fail, although it should be noted that Scorsese hasn't commented on the project, and no release date has been set. Still, this potential movie is too fun not to play around with. We don't know who from Tyson's history will actually be in the movie, but here's a roster of actors who have the skills and looks to pull off roles in Tyson's troubled life story.
Sidebar: Cinema gods, please make this happen!
Forest Whitaker as Don King
The most sought-after role in Tyson's life will likely be Don King, the larger than life boxing legend who seemed to overshadow even Iron Mike at times. Tyson sued King, his former promoter, for $100 million, claiming that King tricked him into signing a contract while he was still in prison for rape and siphoned off millions of dollars. In 2004, King paid Tyson $14 million in a settlement. Tyson never saw a dime, however, because he had to give it all to the IRS to pay out his other massive debts. Although actors like Ving Rhames and Charles S. Dutton could pull off the tense relationship between Tyson and King, Forest Whitaker is best for the part. He’s already won an Oscar playing another kind of King in 2007’s The Last King of Scotland. We'd love to see him rocking King’s signature finger-in-the-electric-socket hair.
Thandie Newton as Robin Givens
Although Tyson was married three times, his one-year marriage to Robin Givens was his most notorious relationship. Remember that bizarre 1988 interview where the couple met with Barbara Walters for 20/20? In the most jaw-dropping moment, Givens told Walters about violent details of her marriage right in front Tyson, who appeared to be on drugs. “It’s been torture. It's been pure hell," said Givens. "It's been worse than anything I could possibly imagine.” When Walters asked if Tyson had hit her, Givens replied, “He shakes, he pushes, he swings.” One week after the interview, Givens filed for divorce. Thandie Newton could nail this dramatic role. Not only has she got the look, Newton also has vast experiences as a talk show guest.
Idris Elba as Evander Holyfield
In 1997, Evander Holyfield’s fight against Mike Tyson became one of the most famous (and strangest) boxing matches in history when Tyson bit off Holyfield's ear. Tyson lost the match, and his boxing license was temporarily suspended. Blair Underwood could play the younger Holyfield; for present day Holyfield, Dennis Haysbert is a possible choice. But Idris Elba is probably best for the role. With the right lighting and proper makeup, Elba could portray both the young fighter and the now 52-year-old Holyfield, and Elba’s stellar performance as Nelson Mandela proves he’s got the acting chops to depict a real figure from history.
Kerry Washington as Desiree Washington
In July 1991, Miss Black Rhode Island contestant Desiree Washington accused Mike Tyson of rape. The two met at a beauty pageant, and Tyson later invited her to a party. When Tyson said he forgot something in his hotel room, the two went up together. Once there, Washington said Tyson pinned her to the bed and raped her. Thirty minutes later Washington left his room alone. Tyson insisted that the sex was consensual and Washington made up the story to squeeze money out of him. He claimed she was angry he hadn’t walked her down to the limo. Tyson lost the battle in court, however, and was sentenced to six years in jail but served only three. Kerry Washington has the acting experience to pull off this difficult role.
'Lab Rat’s' Tyrel Jackson Williams as Young Tyson
Tyson had a bleak childhood and never knew his father, Percel Tyson. His mother, Lorna Mae, told Tyson that his step-father, Jimmy Kirkpatrick, was his dad, but the step-father was barely in the boy’s life either. By the time Tyson was seven, his mother had lost her job and the family was evicted from their home. That’s when Tyson began his life of crime. By the age of 13, he had been arrested 38 times. Tyrel Jackson Williams from the Disney XD kid’s television series Lab Rats could portray the hard life of young Tyson. Williams plays Leo Dooley, a bionic super-powered teen on TV. Playing the poverty-stricken young Tyson could open up a whole new arena of acting ops for Williams.
Brian Dennehy as Cus D’Amato
In one reform school, a juvenile counselor took an interest in Tyson’s boxing abilities and introduced him to Cus D’Amato. Not only did D’Amato become Tyson’s trainer, he invited Tyson to live with him and his widowed sister-in-law in her 14-room Victorian mansion. D’Amato turned the home into a training camp and became the father Tyson never had. The mentor taught this troubled kid the boxing ring skills and self confidence that earned him every heavyweight title in existence. Brian Dennehy's a natural to play the teacher that showed Tyson the ropes: his acting is up to the task, and he has the same moon face as D’Amato.
Gina Torres as Tyson's Third Wife, Lakiha “Kiki” Spicer
When Tyson married his third wife, it was eleven days after his daughter’s tragic death. In 2009 4-year-old Exodus was found tangled in a cord and unconscious, hanging from a treadmill machine. We’re dreading that heart-wrenching part of Tyson’s story, but we know the woman who should play his supportive wife: Gina Torres. You’ll recognize the Cuban-American beauty from her returning roles on edgy TV series, Revenge, Suits, and Hannibal.
Chadwick Boseman as Buster Douglas
Chadwick Boseman is the right actor to portray Buster Douglas, the first boxer to defeat the then-undefeated Tyson, who’d unified all three heavyweight titles: the WBC, WBA, and IBF. In 1990, Tyson was still the most feared fighter in the world; Douglas was 42-1 underdog. He turned the boxing world on its head when he knocked Tyson out in the tenth round and won the championship in a shocking upset. In the past, Boseman has portrayed Jackie Robinson and James Brown. Let’s call him “Biopic Boseman” from now on.
Michael B. Jordan as Lennox Lewis
Jordan has come a long way since his soap days on All My Children. He proved himself in 2013’s critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station. Jordan could play Lennox Lewis, who was already a champ in 2000 when the downward-spiraling Tyson made him the target of the most unforgettable quote: “I was gonna rip his heart out. I'm the most brutal and vicious and most ruthless champion there's ever been. Lennox is a conqueror? No, I'm Alexander, he's no Alexander. There's never been anyone as ruthless. I'm Sonny Liston, I'm Jack Dempsey. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable and I'm just ferocious; I want your heart, I wanna eat his children...”