Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Grammy-winning singer Usher Raymond is gearing up for his role as boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard in the biopic entitled, “Hands of Stone.”
As previously reported, Raymond has been preparing physically for the role since last year and was forced to lose 25 pounds from his 172 pound frame. It is a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity that the pop star says he has been anticipating.
“I’m up for the challenge, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I think my overall feeling is one of anticipation. It seems like this is a real passion project. It’s a film that everybody is so invested in, and I have the good fortune of having the character I’m playing still around.”
According to BV, “Hands of Stone” is based the life of world champion boxer Roberto Duran, who rose from the slums of Panama to defeat an unbeaten Leonard in 1980 and claim the WBC welterweight title, only to lose the rematch several months later in the infamous “no mas” fight.
Raymond will join an all-star cast that includes Robert De Niro as Duran’s Hall of Fame trainer, Ray Arcel and Zero Dark Thirty’s Edgar Ramirez, who will play Duran. Hands of Stone will be film entirely in Panama and will begin shooting in October.
In other casting news, BET is reporting that “Suit &Tie” singer Justin Timberlake is headed back to the big screen in a biopic about 70’s disco king Neil Bogart.
The film, Spinning Gold, is produced by Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon and tells the story of Bogart’s rise to fame as a record executive who is credited for discovering the late disco queen, Donna Summer. The film will also highlights Bogart’s extravagant Hollywood lifestyle and his efforts in popularizing disco in the 1970’s. A soundtrack of disco classics re-imagined by some of today’s biggest stars is also in the works. Most importantly, RC would like to know who will play disco diva, Donna Summer. Spinning Gold is expected to premiere sometime next year.
