Back in early October, actor Hugh Jackman was rumored to be in negotiations to star in DreamWorks' robot boxing movie, Real Steel. Now it's confirmed, according to Variety.
Director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) will direct Real Steel, DreamWorks' first motion picture since receiving $850 million in much-needed financing following the split with Paramount last year.
Jackman will play an ex-fighter in a near-future world where human boxers have been replaced by robots. Jackman's character discovers a junked robot that has a knack for winning and begins promoting the electronic fighter on the Robot Boxing circuit. Along the way, he gets acquainted with the 11-year-old son that he never knew he had.
DreamWorks co-president of production Mark Sourian said that DreamWorks will "put the pedal to metal" on making the movie. Described by Levy as a "rousing sports movie," Real Steel's original script, written by Dan Gilroy, has been reworked twice, most recently by John Gatins.