Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud have signed on to star in the upcoming Sports TV series Giants , based on the life of British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamid.
Born in Egypt, raised in Canada, Massoud (Aladdin, Amazon Prime Video’s Jack Ryan) will play Naseem Hamed, nicknamed Prince and Naz, who was awarded in his 10 Multiple Featherweight World Champion – one year career including WBO, IBF and WBC titles. BAFTA-winning Considine (Tyrannosaur, HBO’s House of the Dragon) will Play Hamed Irish-born boxing trainer Brendan Ingle.
Rowan Athale, Director 10 Toronto Film Festival Title Wasteland (aka The Rise) and writer of the Sky/AMC series Gangs of London, will write and direct Giant, focusing on Hamed’s self-made story as the child of working-class Yemeni immigrants who rose to left-handed superstardom in Yorkshire.
Hamed was discovered in Sheffield by Ingle, a steel industry worker turned boxing coach, and their unlikely partnership became Britain’s most successful and intriguing Foundation fighting.
Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios will fully fund Giant
with Ford, Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions and Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions. Sylvester Stallone and Brayden Aftergood of Balboa Productions serve as executive producers.
Hamad’s unorthodox boxing style and swagger made him an overnight celebrity. A flamboyant and flashy fighter who regularly knocked out opponents in the first round, he was also known for his dramatic ring entrances — which included entering the ring on a flying carpet and reenacting Michael Jackson music videos horror film. Hamad, a devout Muslim who often prayed before battle, became a hero to millions of British working class and Muslims, but also faced racism and Islam during his rise. phobia.
“I’ve wanted to make this movie for years,” Athale said. “The story of legendary boxing trainer Brendan Ingles and his intense relationship with his protégé “Prince” Nassim is as much legend as it is true cinema. Working with the incomparable Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud to make this film is astonishing.” Exciting, necessary, hilarious and heartrending, and with the support of the one and only Sylvester Stallone and his Balboa Productions team, a dream come true.”
CONSIDER Given the subject matter and Prince Naseem’s global star status, Giant is likely to be a hit at Berlin’s European Film Market next month.
Deal for Paddy Considine brokered by CAA and Independent Talent Group, Mena Massoud brokered by Myman, Greenspan, Fox, Rosenberg, Mobasser, Younger & Light, Gersh and LINK Derek Kroeger facilitated entertainment and Senior Vice President, Legal and Commercial Affairs Anant Tamirisa negotiated on behalf of AGC Studios.
