It seems Mike Tyson has found his leading man for a biopic on the former boxing champ’s life. All signs lead to Jamie Foxx, who’s been known for poking fun at Tyson in the past.
“Me and Jamie Foxx have been talking and he’s willing to take that role and portray me as Mike Tyson, doing my life story,” Tyson told The Associated Press on Friday. ”I think he’s splendid because he’s really up to par. I think he would do a magnificent job.”
Word of the biopic first surfaced in January when Tyson and wife Lakiha Spicer toyed with the idea of teaming up with “Undisputed Truth” author Larry Sloman to produce a film. Spicer previously said she would prefer to cast an unknown actor to play a young Tyson, but Foxx could lock down the older role.
“I saw him the other night and we discussed it,” Tyson said. “He doesn’t have the physicality but he will. He’s able to … get bulky, so he’s capable of doing it in the future.”
Photos courtesy of Mark Davis/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images North America
Tyson added that the project will “happen very shortly.” He is currently focused on bringing his Undisputed Truth one-man show to Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on Sept. 10.