Shawn Levy has signed on to direct DreamWorks’ Real Steel, replacing Peter Berg, who had been in talks to take on the futuristic robot boxing movie.
The storyline takes place in a near future where human boxing has been outlawed, and heavy, humanoid robots slug it out in the ring instead. Into this world step a father and his estranged teenage son, who train an extraordinary fighter.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Shawn on this project,” DreamWorks CEO and co-chair Stacey Snider said. “He’s a master of combining heart and human stories with fantastic visuals. I’m sure that in his capable hands, ‘Real Steel’ will be a film that touches and excites all audiences.”
“Steven’s passion for this project was absolutely infectious and I’m so excited to bring this story to life,” Levy said. “In a movie filled with these mechanical warriors, at its core ‘Real Steel’ is an incredibly human story.”
John Gatins (Dreamer) is writing the most recent draft of the screenplay.
Angry Films’ Don Murphy and Susan Montford are producing. Steven Spielberg will executive produce along with ImageMovers’ Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey and Jack Rapke. Levy also will serve in a producing capacity.
Real Steel would be distributed by Disney.
