Jamie Foxx is playing legendary boxer “Mike Tyson” in a limited TV series, titled “Tyson”. This biographical television series centered on Tyson’s life is said to be executive produced by legend himself as well as, his wife Kiki Tyson, Jamie Foxx, and Raging Bull director Martin Scorsese. Antoine Fuqua will direct and executive produce this series.
The project was initially announced back in 2014 as a feature biopic film with Foxx to play Tyson and Terence Winter to write the script. But now it has “become a limited TV series and is set to be taken out to market shortly.” reports Deadline. Fledgling screenwriter Colin Preston will be handling screenwriting duties, “and has already written the pilot, with work on writing the full script is in the process.”
However, Oscar-winner actor, Jamie Foxx opened about his involvement in the project in June last year by sharing pictures of him training on Instagram. He also revealed that “he first met Mike Tyson at age of 22, while performing stand-up comedy, and made a joke about Tyson when he was in the audience.”
Nothing has been said about the release date and it’s further casting just yet. But in a statement, Tyson, 54, said that he has been “looking to tell his story for quite some time. With the recent launch of Legends Only League and the excitement from fans following my return to the ring, now feels like the perfect moment.”
He continued “I look forward to collaborating with Martin, Antoine, Jamie, and the entire creative team to bring audiences a series that not only captures my professional and personal journey but also inspires and entertains.”
For those who don’t know “Tyson” is the second limited series based on the life of Mike Tyson. As in February, Hulu revealed that it has ordered an eight-episode limited series titled “Iron Mike,” about the legendary boxer. But after the announcement, Mike Tyson slammed Hulu’s decision and spoke out against the series calling it a “tone-deaf” and “cultural misappropriation.”