DreamWorks sets Steel

Back in the end of September, we told you that Hugh Jackman was attached to star in REAL STEEL, a futuristic boxing movie somewhat based on Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots (but more so based on a short story by Richard Matheson). Now the project has officially been greenlit by Steven Spielberg as the first project under the new DreamWorks.

Jackman is set to star with Shawn Levy directing the film, which has a somewhat modest $80 million budget considering Jackman will be boxing giant, futuristic robots. The script, written by Dan Gilroy and John Gatins, will star Jackman as a struggling Robot Boxing promoter who finds a discarded robot while discovering he has a 11-year-old son, and the bond they form as the robot brawls its way toward the top.

I’m a little confused as to how the future of the project on the business side will work. DreamWorks signed a deal with Disney to release their titles but it’s noted that Paramount has the right to co-finance REAL STEEL with DreamWorks if they decide. So does that mean this would be a DreamWorks/Disney/Paramount film?

Filming on STEEL is expected to begin in June after Levy is done promoting his latest comedy DATE NIGHT.