Bang Bang: Tim Blake Nelson to lead Vincent Grashaw’s boxing drama

Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou, The Incredible Hulk) is ready to put his dukes up for Bang Bang, an upcoming boxing drama from director Vincent Grashaw (Bellflower, What Josiah Saw). Written by Will Janowitz (The Sopranos), the story focuses on Bernard “Bang Bang” Rozyski (Nelson), a disgruntled, retired boxer in charge of caring for his grandson. While making ends meet, Bernard encounters a chance to settle an old grudge, but he’ll need to show his kin around the ropes to come out swinging like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.

Joining Nelson for Grashaw’s hard-hitting drama are Glenn Plummer (Menace II Society, South Central), Andrew Liner (Vampire Academy, Better Things), Erica Gimple (Fame, God Friended Me), Nina Arianda (Being the Ricardos, Midnight in Paris), Daniella Pineda (Jurassic World: Dominion, The Vampire Diaries), and Kevin Corrigan (True Romance, The Departed).

“This project hits the most personal to me. I grew up loving the sport of boxing, but the script tackled elements I hadn’t seen before in a movie; the aftermath of a troubled fighter’s career,” said Grashaw. “I found it an incredibly moving, tragic story, but also extremely funny. Tim Blake Nelson blew me away in the role and I can’t wait to share it with an audience.”

Meanwhile, Nelson is enjoying the challenge posed by Bang Bang, and participating is something he thinks is an intelligent film. “This role presents challenges I’ve not had as an actor,” Nelson confessed, “but more importantly, it’s part of a mordantly smart and surprising script being realized by a superb storyteller in Vincent Grashaw.”

Ran Namerode and Angelia Adzic produce through Randomix Productions, with Cole Payne of Traverse Media, Grashaw, and Janowitz. Jesse Ozeri, Dane Eckerle, and Nicolaas Bertelsen serve as executive producers.

“Vince is gifted with unique skills, and around him we assembled an outstanding team, from a great writer through a fantastic cast to a great crew and production team,” added Namerode, “and we are all convinced that Bang Bang will really touch people’s hearts.”

Nelson is an incredibly versatile actor whose transformative habits should make his role in Bang Bang something worth getting into the ring about. Boxing dramas are a dime-a-dozen in Hollywood. However, the preview image for Bang Bang (shown above) already makes this movie look like a gut punch to the senses. Ding ding!