Hulu's Mike Tyson biopic TV series has cast Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight, The Predator, 12 Strong) as its very own Kid Dynamite. Rhodes is set to step into the ring as the controversial heavyweight champion boxer in the eight-part series Iron Mike.
The series is set to explore the wild, tragic and controversial life and career of former world champion Tyson – one of the most polarizing figures in sports culture. The series set to dance around the events of Tyson's life hails from I, Tonya screenwriter Steven Rogers and director Craig Gillespie with Margot Robbie executive producing and Mixed-ish’s Karin Gist set as showrunner and executive producer.
“Biographical pictures are a fan favorite and a staple of the movie and television business and frequently the subjects are not involved. We have a strategy of taking a modern lens and applying it to stories and figures of popular culture of the past. We’ve had a lot of success doing that and I think it reveals interesting things, not just about where we’ve been but where we are so we’re looking forward to continuing the creative conversations behind Iron Mike,” Craig Erwich, President of ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals, told Deadline.
Speaking of Deadline, the outlet says that Hulu's Iron Mike has been something of a contentious project for Tyson. In February, Tyson accused Disney of “cultural misappropriation” for announcing the project during Black History Month, saying the move was "tone-deaf."
“Hulu’s announcement to do an unauthorized mini-series of the Tyson story without compensation, although unfortunate, isn’t surprising,” Tyson said in a stern Instagram post at the time. “This announcement on the heels of social disparities in our country is a prime example of how Hulu’s corporate greed led to this tone-deaf cultural misappropriation of the Tyson life story. To make this announcement during Black History Month only confirms Hulu’s concern for dollars over respect for black story rights. Hollywood needs to be more sensitive to black experiences especially after all that has transpired in 2020.”
At the time when Tyson criticized Hulu, the one-punch-wonder had a rival project in the works, one that he was directly involved in. Announced by the ex-boxer in March, the limited series hailed from Antoine Fuqua and Martin Scorsese and had Jamie Foxx lined up to star. That project didn't have any buyers attached at the time, though Tyson might have seen Hulu's project as direct competition.
For now, it sounds like Iron Mike is a go, and will move into production later this year.