Many A-list Hollywood actors could effectively portray Mike Tyson, but Jamie Foxx fits the bill for several reasons. During the COVID-19 lockdown, both men have made headlines for their social media activity, with Tyson planning a comeback at age 53 and Foxx confirming his lead role in the upcoming biopic Finding Mike. Here's why an iconic performance will involve much more than a body transformation and a spot-on Tyson impersonation.
With Foxx, his pop culture persona will always affect how moviegoers interpret dramatic performances. For example, a certain demographic may always view him as the stand-up comedian who became a prominent figure on the sketch comedy series In Living Color, while others may forever perceive him as Ray Charles - the subject of his Oscar-Winning performance in Ray. At this point, however, Foxx has demonstrated his ability to carry hard-hitting dramas, evidenced by roles in Any Given Sunday, Collateral Damage, Miami Vice, and many more. Depending on who writes and directs Finding Mike (Terence Winter and Martin Scorsese were originally attached), the biopic could be the ideal showcase for Foxx's complete skill set as an actor.
Finding Mike has long been a passion project for Foxx, which implies that he'll be extra careful with his approach. The biopic was initially announced in 2014, prompting Foxx to tell variations of the same story about befriending Mike Tyson during the late '80s, a time when the boxer was at his peak. Back then, Foxx was a stand-up comedian and learned an important lesson about Tyson after doing an impression in front of him: the Heavyweight champ could take a joke, much like he could take a punch. It didn't phase him. With Finding Mike, Foxx can incorporate first-hand Tyson experiences from the boxer's heyday, from his decline in the '90s, and from recent years. In short, Foxx doesn't need to research Tyson, as he's witnessed the man himself, in real life, over the course of three decades.
At 52, Foxx is just one year younger than Tyson, and still has a youthful spirit. He recently shared training pictures that show his transformation for Finding Mike, and so his physical appearance will seemingly be authentic, at least from the middle section up. Foxx has joked about his lack of leg muscle, and stated that visual effects will be necessary for sequences about Tyson's early career. Whereas Robert De Niro took a unique approach by gaining and losing weight for Scorsese's iconic boxing-themed movie Raging Bull, Foxx will likely prioritize the intimidation factor that made Tyson so terrifying to opponents throughout the '80s, along with his vulnerability as a young Black man. Foxx's background in stand-up comedy will boost the physical nature of the performance, as he understands the importance of capturing specifics mannerisms and movements.
Because Foxx knows Tyson personally, he can more easily incorporate bits of comedic and dramatic nuance. Foxx has been doing Tyson impressions for more than 30 years, and he'll be able to enliven key sequences that are authentic to the boxer's personality, both within the ring and outside of it. For some extra dramatic weight, Foxx will undoubtedly channel real-life conversations with his subjects; private moments about life and real loss. However, self-awareness will be key for the role. Foxx will need to value restraint and not get caught up in the popcorn entertainment factor, as he often tends to over-perform at times. So, the most dramatic moment in Finding Mike will require Foxx to really dig deep as Mike Tyson, and to minimize wink-of-the-eye moments that will appeal to some moviegoers but not necessarily benefit the film as a whole.