No one has had a career like George Foreman. The guy who is now best known as a genial pitchman for products on TV — and for having five sons, all named George — was one of the most fearsome boxers ever to step into the ring. Foreman won matches with some of the 20th Century's greatest fighters and faced off against Muhammed Ali in what might be the most famous fight ever staged, the Rumble in the Jungle.
It's almost too much life to fit into one movie, but BIG GEORGE FOREMAN might be With a full title that is as extravagant as the boxer himself — BIG GEORGE FOREMAN: THE MIRACULOUS STORY OF THE ONCE AND FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD — this movie is poised to introduce a new generation to Foreman's achievements.
Let's take a look at the BIG GEORGE FOREMAN trailer, and we'll tell you a few other important things about the movie.
When Does Big George Foreman Open?
Sony will release BIG GEORGE FOREMAN exclusively in movie theatres on April 28.
Watch the Big George Foreman Trailer
There's a certain formula to both biopics and the boxing movie and BIG GEORGE FOREMAN does not seem to shy away from embracing that structure. And that's good! You can't ignore the fact that the formula is modeled on the lives of rare icons like Foreman. So this movie gets to lean into both the expectations that we bring into a boxing movie while also surprising audiences with the real twists in the true story.
George Foreman's Story
Foreman's life is probably too big for one movie — there are entire films dedicated to exploring the Rumble in the Jungle, for example. But we can see that BIG GEORGE FOREMAN focuses primarily on two major aspects of Foreman's life. There's his rise from poor kid to boxing prospect to champion. Then there's his near-death experience, his spiritual awakening, and life as a preacher.
Finally, BIG GEORGE FOREMAN explores one of the most amazing parts of a remarkable life: Foreman's return to the ring. Everyone assumed that he was too old, too out of shape, and too far behind the times to compete with powerful young fighters in the Mike Tyson era. Foreman proved them all wrong, and that grand comeback is certainly movie-worthy.
Khris Davis Gets a Star Turn
Anyone who watched "Atlanta" knows Khris Davis, who played Tracy, the opportunistic ex-con who creates chaos while remaining perfectly calm at the eye of any storm. Now Davis is fully in the spotlight as Foreman. The role requires him to play the boxer in several different eras of life, effectively giving him multiple roles to perform. It's great to see Davis so deeply immersed into the role, too — anyone who only knows him from "Atlanta" is going to be pleasantly surprised.
BIG GEORGE FOREMAN also stars Forest Whitaker as trainer Doc Broadus and Sullivan Jones as Muhammad Ali. Jasmine Mathews, John Magaro, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Sonja Sohn, and Shein Mompremier are in the film as well.
BIG GEORGE FOREMAN opens on April 28.
All images courtesy of Sony Pictures.