Pierce Brosnan Takes On A Transformative Role In Sports Biopic, Giant
We may be in a Pierce Brosnan renaissance: the former Bond star appeared in the acclaimed MobLand earlier this year, and the just-released The Thursday Murder Club, and he’s not done yet this year. Brosnan takes on a transformative role in the new biopic Giant. Also starring Amir El-Masry, it’s based on the life of British-Yemeni boxer Prince Naseem Hamed. It traces his career from humble beginnings to becoming a world champion in the sport, and is slated for release in October. Here’s all we know:
What is Giant about?
A career-spanning true story, Giant begins in Sheffield, where we meet young working-class boy Naseem, or “Naz” as he’s nicknamed by others. He comes from a poor background, but develops a dream to one day become a boxer, and starts training for it. Soon, he’s eventually discovered by Brendan Ingle (Brosnan), an Irish former boxer turned trainer, who in real life trained four world champions in total. Brendan quickly sees potential in Naseem’s skill and decides to make him his protégé. Despite their seemingly unlikely partnership, Brendan, too, comes from a working-class background, working in the steel industry.
Naz soon cultivates a cocky, swaggering persona and unorthodox methods as he rises up the ranks towards becoming a boxing star. The film is set in the 80s and 90s, and also explores the racism that Naseem faces as he becomes more and more noticed. The official trailer shows some insight into this, with Brendan noticing the different treatment that Naz gets from other kids his age, and advising him to use it to his advantage in the ring.
As Naz’s career progresses and he becomes ever more successful, however, the relationship between him and his trainer begins to fray: “You’re selfish and arrogant,” Brendan says as he confronts Naz over his behaviour. “You nurtured that arrogance,” Naz retorts. The trailer ends with Brendan giving a bit of boxing wisdom: “You climb close enough to the sun, you cast the shadow of a giant…”
Who else stars, and what else do we know?
In addition to the two main leads, Giant will also star Austin Hayes (All Creatures Great And Small) and Arian Nik (Count Abdullah). It’s also produced by Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone. It’s set to arrive in UK cinemas on 24th October.
