According to Deadline, Ang Lee's 3D boxing movie based on the iconic "Thrilla in Manilla" fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, which was originally set up at Universal after he won a Best Director Oscar for LIFE OF PI, has found a new home at Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8, and it will likely be Lee's next directing project.
Lee was planning on following up LIFE OF PI with the currently untitled flick, which "will dive into the world of boxing in the 1970s when Ali and Frazier were the kings of their sport and boxing had reached a peak in popularity," but decided to instead helm BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK, a film adaptation of the Ben Fountain novel of the same name.
Variety is also reporting David Oyelowo (SELMA, JACK REACHER) is Lee's top choice to play Joe Frazier, while The Wrap has learned that Ray Fisher (DC Extended Universe's Cyborg) is the frontrunner to portray Muhammad Ali. No formal offers have been made yet to either actor, but apparently Oyelowo is very interested in playing Frazier. Although there's no details on when filming might start, the planned movie will probably head into production sometime next year.
Lee's BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK is currently in post-production, and has been set to hit theaters on November 11, 2016.
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