As David Oyelowo continues to stack up roles, it's only a matter of time before his breakthrough moment arrives. This fall he'll become a familiar face to moviegoers, with roles in Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy," Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," and the Tom Cruise vehicle "Jack Reacher." And he's as busy as ever, recently wrapping with Daniels on "The Butler" and currently filming the controversial Nina Simone biopic "Nina." But now he's lining up the kind of lead role that should definitely get him more notice.
Oyelowo is set to play Sugar Ray Robinson in "Sweet Thunder." Based on the book "Sweet Thunder: The Life And Times Of Sugar Ray Robinson" by Wil Haygood (who also wrote a draft of the script), the film will tell the story of the legendary boxer, particularly the early part of his career which found him trying to make strides in the sport, without getting mixed up in organized crime. Of course, Robinson is also known for his half dozen fights with Jake LaMotta, a thread featured in Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull."
The project is currently looking for a director, and Danny Strong ("The Butler") may do a rewrite as development continues. But certainly a promising film that we hope Oyelowo gets in the ring for soon. [Deadline]
Shame shame on you – – is it laziness or oversight? – Playlist for not mentioning his co-starring role in MIDDLE OF NOWHERE to his fall movie line-up. I mean if you're gonna mention PAPERBOY, for its hoopla and craziness…