In case you hadn't heard, “Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter teamed up with “Training Day” and “The Equalizer” director Antoine Fuqua for the new boxing drama “Southpaw.” Harvey Weinstein has been touting it since he showed footage of Gyllenhaal “training” at Cannes last May. Judging from the first preview, it may be box office heaven for The Weinstein Company.
We'd warn you about spoilers, but this is one trailer that pretty much puts it all out there. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Billy Hope, a champion junior middleweight boxer who seemingly has it all. A beautiful and loving wife (Rachel McAdams), an adorable daughter (Oona Laurence) and an opulent lifestyle. When tragedy strikes Hope hits rock bottom until he decides to pick up the pieces of his life by hanging out at a small-time gym run by Forest Whitaker.
You can predict the entire movie's plot based on this new preview, but guess what? It doesn't matter. Moviegoers love a comeback story, Gyllenhaal looks cut enough to make most audiences swoon and the melodrama is packing every cliche you can imagine for a boxing movie. Yep, “Southpaw” looks like a major cash cow for Harvey Weinstein's sometimes shaky empire.
The cast also includes Rita Orta, Naomie Harris, Victor Ortiz and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. And you wouldn't guess it by the Eminem fueled soundtrack on the trailer, but “Southpaw” will be James Horner's first narrative movie score in three years.
You can watch the new trailer embedded at the top of this post.
What do you think? Does Harvey have a summer hit on his hands? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
“Southpaw” opens nationwide on July 31.