Camelot Films has added a raft of additional stars to its forthcoming feature film Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher with principal photography set to commence on May 9th on location in Wales.
Exciting new talent Matt Hookings will star in the titular role, with avid boxing fan Ray Winstone (King of Thieves, Jawbone) as Bill Warr, a keen pugilist who becomes both trainer and surrogate father to Jem. They lead an international ensemble cast that includes Marton Csokas (The Luminaries, Into the Badlands) and Jodhi May (The Witcher, The Warrior Queen of Jhansi) with further names to be added ahead of production. Legendary British actors Steven Berkoff (Vikings), Julian Glover (Game of Thrones) and William Moseley (Artemis Fowl) will also feature.
Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher is the inspiring, yet little known, true story of a boxer became the youngest ever world champion at the age of nineteen in 1800. Jem Belcher transformed primitive pugilism into the sport of boxing as we know it today. Growing up in poverty and surrounded by brutal violence and addiction, Jem is saved by a benevolent mentor and the discipline of boxing, becoming the most exciting sportsman in all of England. Rivals, back-stabbing and the newly established boxing hierarchy did everything they could to thwart him but Jem is on path to cement his place in history – as a pioneer of the sport.
The film will be produced by Camelot Films, Chris Hardman of Hardman Pictures and Richard Holmes of Big Rich Films. Executive producers are Matthew Chausse and Norman Merry.
Prizefighter will be directed by Daniel Graham who, most recently, wrote and directed The Obscure Life of the Grand Duke of Corsica, a black comedy starring Timothy Spall and Peter Stormare. Prizefighter marks his third feature as director.
Director, Daniel Graham, added:
“As a director I am fascinated with characters who find unconventional ways of doing things even if it means sowing the seed of their own destruction. Prizefighter is an immensely exciting opportunity to realise my vision set amidst a pivotal point in England’s history.”
Writer, producer and lead Matt Hookings, said:
“This is the movie every boxing fan has been waiting for as it tells for the first time the real origins of the modern-day sport that they love. Jem’s life was tragic and unique but highly inspirational and should take its proper place in the history of sports.”
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