Is Hugh Jackman Real Steel?

Variety is reporting that Hugh Jackman is in talks to star in Real Steel, a film about a ex-fighter father and his 13-year-old estranged son who reunite to compete in a futuristic robot fighting league. The Dreamworks film is being directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Cheaper By The Dozen), who is taking over directing duties from Peter Berg (Dune, Hancock 2).

Jackman is reportedly in talks to the play the role of the father, who becomes a promoter for the robot fighting league after his career as a human boxer is deemed obsolete.

With the news that Hugh Jackman is eyeing a role in Real Steel, we also get a little more about what the film will actually be about. According to Variety, the father character starts out at a disadvantage in the robot league, only having access to sub-standard parts – that is until he discovers a discarded ‘bot that seems to always win in the ring. After discovering his 13-year-old son for the first time, father and son bond while trying to ride their fighting robot all the way to the top.

John Gatins (Coach Carter) is currently rewriting the script for Real Steel alongside Levy. A script was originally turned by Dan Gilroy, with rewrites by Les Bohem before Gatins came aboard. The premise of the film is taken from a short story by Richard Matheson, an author whose work you maybe didn’t know was the inspiration for such films as I am Legend, What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and Richard Kelly’s (Donnie Darko) upcoming thriller, The Box.

As always, it’s hard to vote AGAINST Hugh Jackman – here’s hoping he lands the part. We’ll let you know when we hear official confirmation.

Dreamworks hopes to get Real Steel into production by Spring of next year.

Source: Variety