Roberto Durán to Be Featured in Showtime’s Docuseries “The Kings”

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Durán is returning to the limelight…

The 69-year-old Panamanian former professional boxer, known as “Manos de Piedra,” will be among four high-impact boxers featured in the Showtime docuseries The Kings.

In addition to Durán, who held world championships in four weight classes: lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, the docuseries will also feature Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns.

The first of the show’s four episodes will premiere on Sunday, June 6, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on linear and streaming, the ViacomCBS premium network announced.

Nicknamed the Four Kings during their remarkable, overlapping careers, the quartet contested nine championship fights among them from 1980 to 1989. Their distinct styles and vivid personalities helped spark a renaissance in the sport of boxing, which had endured a downturn after Muhammad Ali’s storybook run concluded.

The backdrop of the series is the 1980s, a go-go decade marked by pronounced socioeconomic and political upheaval in the U.S. as President Ronald Reagan left his mark.

Hagler died last month at age 66.

“These four men defined an era in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, president of Showtime Sports, in a press release. “Their individual stories, forever linked by the spectacular battles they waged, reflect a tumultuous period in American culture and history. The Kings takes the viewer beyond the glorious action of some of history’s most memorable prizefights to illuminate each man’s dramatic journey and the societal context that made them stars of sports and popular culture.”

Leonard’s first fight with Durán came in 1980 and kicked off years of tightly contested battles in the ring and surging global popularity outside of it. The four boxers, joined in the latter years of the 1980s by the up-and-coming Mike Tyson, became some of the biggest names in sports and popular culture.

The Boxing Writers Association of America voted each of the four Fighter of the Year every year but one from 1979 to 1985. The Ring magazine named three of their title bouts Fight of the Year and picked Round 1 of Hagler-Hearns as Round of the Year.

The show is premiering during a year that marks the 45th anniversary of Leonard’s Olympic gold medal win and the 40th anniversary of a high point for the Four Kings: Leonard vs. Hearns.

The Kings is produced by Box To Box Film in association with Ingenious Media.

Cruz Attached to Star in Todd Solondz’s New Project “Love Child”

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Penélope Cruz is getting ready for Child’s play…

The 42-year-old Spanish actress is attached to star in Todd Solondz’s new project Love Child.

Cruz would star opposite Edgar Ramírez, who starred in the Roberto Duran boxing biopic Hands of Stone.

Solondz, the man behind Wiener Dog and Welcome To The Dollhouse, writes and directs the project, which is described as a dark and hilarious twist on the classic Oedipal theme.

The story follows 11-year-old Junior, a delusional aspiring Broadway star with an inappropriate obsession with his mother Immaculada. After orchestrating an accident that nearly kills his abusive father, he encourages Nacho, the handsome man living in the family’s guesthouse, to court his mother and become his new dad. But when the two fall in love, Junior becomes so jealous that he is no longer the subject of his mother’s attention that he hatches a plan to frame Nacho for his father’s murder.

The film is currently in pre-production.

Cruz recently joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh’s Murder On The Orient Express, based on Agatha Christie’s beloved murder mystery novel. She’ll join an ensemble cast including Michael Peña, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Judi Dench. She’s also in Escobar with husband Javier Bardem in a film that examines the love affair between drug lord Pablo Escobar and Colombian journalist Virginia Vallejo.

Ramirez recently starred alongside Emily Blunt in The Girl On The Train, adapted from Paula Hawkins’ bestselling book, and Gold with Matthew McConaughey, the adventure mining story. He’s also got a role in Netflix’s sci-fi pic Bright with Will Smith and Noomi Rapace.

New Trailer Released for Ramirez’s Roberto Duran Biopic “Hands of Stone”

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez’s gloves are on…

The Weinstein Company has released its latest trailer for Hands of Stone, the Roberto Duran boxing biopic starring the 39-year-old Venezuelan actor and Robert De Niro.

Duran became a hero in his native Panama as he rose through the ranks behind trainer Ray Arcel (De Niro), winning titles in four different weight classes. But it was his three epic bouts with Leonard that mattered most, the first when Duran beat Leonard to steal his welterweight belt in June 1980, and of course the second only five months later, when Duran famously told the referee “No mas” in the eighth round as Leonard was running circles around him. He also lost a close decision in a third fight in 1989. Duran certainly went on to redeem himself, though, and ended his career with 103 wins and securing his place on experts’ lists of the best fighters of all time.

Usher co-stars as Duran’s rival Sugar Ray Leonard, and Ellen Barkin, Ruben Blades and Ana de Armas co-star.

Hands of Stone debuts on August 26.

Ramirez’s “Hands of Stone” Screening at This Year’s Cannes Film Festival

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez will be throwing punches at this year’s Cannes Film Festival…

The 39-year-old Venezuelan actor’s latest film, Hands of Stone, will have a special screening at the film festival on Monday, May 16 in homage to fellow star Robert De Niro who will be in attendance.

“I’m excited to be coming back to Cannes especially with this movie, Hands Of Stone, that I’m so proud of,” said De Niro. “This movie is uplifting, triumphant and a good time for audiences, so I’m looking forward to seeing my friends from across the world of cinema in joining us for this fun event.”

The rags-to-riches boxing drama by Venezuelan director Jonathan Jakubowicz tells the story of iconinc Panamanian brawler Roberto Duràn (Ramirez) and manager and trainer Ray Arcel (De Niro).

Duran made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16-year‐old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. He defeated nemesis Sugar Ray Leonard in June 1980, capturing the WBC welterweight title. However, in the rematch that November, Duran shocked the world. He was being outclassed and pummeled by Leonard when he said “No mas,” turned his back on his opponent and quit in the ring. During the course of his career he saw 103 victories in 119 fights.

The film’s title comes from Duran’s nickname, Los Manos a Piedra. Usher plays Leonard. Ellen Barkin, Ruben Blades and Ana de Armas also star.

The Weinstein Company acquired Hands of Stone at Cannes last year after an all-nighter and will release the film domestically on August 26.

Juanes Developing Autobiographical TV Series “Persiguiendo el Sol”

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juanes is looking to break into the television…

The 43-year-old Colombian musician and his manager, Rebeca Leon, have partnered with Golden Globe-winning producer Ben Silverman for an Empire-like television drama.

The three have joined to develop and produce a television show titled Persiguiendo el Sol that will chronicle Juanes’ rise to stardom, from his beginnings in Colombia through his arrival in Miami, according to Billboard.

“It’s a mix of Entourage and Narcos,” Silverman told Billboard, referencing the Netflix drug drama not for its content, but as an example of a show shot in Latin America for mainstream audiences.

Producer Eric Newman, the showrunner for Narcos, will also be executive producer and showrunner for Persiguiendo el Sol.

“He’s the first American producer to bring American show running to American production,” said Silverman, who has worked several Latin-themed projects in recent years, including Jane the Virgin and Killer Women.

Silverman, who is the founder and chairman of entertainment production company Electus, arrived in Miami on January 18 in time for the NATPE global television market. He’ll be shopping the show concept to potential production partners in both Latin and mainstream media with plans to start shooting as early as spring or summer.

Persiguiendo el Sol, which is named after Juanes’ memoir, will be a bilingual show and will feature cameos from multiple artists in both mainstream and Latin worlds.

The notion of the show began to brew after Silverman met Juanes through Leon in 2014 and enlisted him to perform in an episode of Jane the Virgin. Silverman was already heavily vested in Latin themed productions. Among other projects, he was putting the finishing touches on bilingual film Hands of Stone, which is due out in April and tells the story of boxer Roberto “Mano de Piedra” Durán. Its cast includes Edgar Ramirez, Ruben Blades, Usher and Robert de Niro.

Juanes has also been dabbling further in mainstream film and television. Last year, his song “Juntos,” co-written with fellow Colombian Fonseca, was used for the ending credits of Disney film McFarland USA.

de Armas’ “Arms & The Dudes” Set for March 2016 Release

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas and her Dudes will be hitting theaters next March…

Warner Bros. has set the release date for Arms & The Dudes, starring the 27-year-old Cuban actress, for March 11, 2016.

Based on the Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson, the film follows two arms dealers Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, who get a government contract to supply weapons for US troops in Afghanistan.

The is set for release on March 11, 2016.

de Armas portrays Iz in the Todd Phillips-directed biographical crime comedy, which also stars Jonah Hill, Miles Teller and J. B. Blanc.

de Armas’ will next appear in the Edgar Ramirez-starrer Hands of Stone, which tells the story of boxing legend Roberto Duran.

The Weinstein Company Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights to Ramirez’s “Hands of Stone”

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez’s latest film will get the Weinstein treatment…

The Weinstein Company has closed a deal for the U.S. distribution rights to Hands of Stone, the Jonathan Jakubowicz-directed drama that stars the 38-year-old Venezuelan actor as iconic fighter Robert Duran.

Robert De Niro portrays Duran’s mentor and trainer Ray Arcel, and Usher appears as his ring nemesis Sugar Ray Leonard. Ellen Barkin, Ruben Blades and Ana de Armas also star.

The deal includes a theatrical commitment of around 2000 screens that will make this a precedent-setting release for a Latino film, with a strong P&A commitment and backend deals.

The deal makes sense, as The Weinstein Company bought the foreign rights for Hands of Stone a few months ago and now the company will release it globally.

The film tells the rags-to-riches story of Duran, who is best remembered for his two ring matches with Leonard. The first, in 1980, featured two proud all-time greats fighting toe to toe, with Duran emerging victorious to win the WBC welterweight title. And then came the rematch that November, where Duran shocked the world. He was being outclassed and pummeled by Leonard when he said “no mas,” and turned his back on Leonard and quit in the ring.

Jakubowicz wrote the script, and the core of the story is the relationship between Duran and Arcel and how each man changed the other in boxing’s Golden Era, when Duran and Leonard battled among a group of brawlers that included Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Hector Camacho and Vinny Pazienza.

The title Hands Of Stone came from Duran’s nickname, because the Panamanian hit so hard, with those heavy fists powering him to 103 victories in 119 fights. The “no mas” incident was a terrible ending to a rivalry that was everything depicted by De Niro and Martin Scorsese in Raging Bull, when Jake LaMotta had those classic brawls with Sugar Ray Robinson.

The film will most likely open sometime next winter.

de Armas to Star Opposite Jonah Hill in “Arms and The Dudes”

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas is up in arms…

The 26-year-old Cuban actress has landed a starring role opposite Miles Teller and Jonah Hill in Warner Bros.’ Arms and The Dudes.

The Todd Phillips film, which heads into production this month, revolves around two buddies who join forces as young adults to become successful international arms dealers until they find themselves well beyond their depth.

The film is based on a 2011 Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson.

de Armas was at the Sundance Film Festival last month with her latest movie, Eli Roth’s Knock Knock, in which she stars opposite Keanu Reeves.

Her credits include the upcoming Roberto Duran biopic Hands of Stone and she’s shooting Gee Malik Linton’s mystery-thriller Daughter of God right now in New York City.

Ramirez In Talks to Star Opposite Jennifer Lawrence in David O. Russell’s “Joy”

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It could be a joyous occasion for Édgar Ramírez…

The 37-year-old Venezuelan actor is in final talks to play the husband of Jennifer Lawrence’s character in Joy, director David O. Russell’s take on Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano.

Mangano (being portrayed by Lawrence) is a prominent fixture on the Home Shopping Network with her many inventions, though the mop was her claim to fame and fortune. She began inventing things as a teenager and kept on dreaming and tinkering while still a single mom raising three kids.

Ramírez will play Mangano’s dapper but cheating husband, whom she eventually divorces.

Robert De Niro is already on board to portray Mangano’s father.

Ramírez was last seen on the big screen this summer in Deliver Us From Evil, the supernatural thriller that also starred Eric Bana. He recently wrapped shooting on Point Break, the remake of the 1980s classic in which he plays Bodhi, the role first played by Patrick Swayze. Warner Bros. plans to release the film on July 31, 2015.

Additionally, he leads the cast of Hands of Stone, a biopic about boxer Roberto Duran that also includes De Niro. That movie is expected to be released sometime next year.

Joy is expected to begin production in early February.

de Armas to Star Opposite Edgar Ramirez in “Hands of Stone”

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas is gearing up to bring a little Felicidad to the big screen…

The 25-year-old Cuban actress has signed on to star in the Jonathan Jacubowicz-directed film about legendary boxer Roberto Duran, Hands of Stone.

de Armas, who will be making her English-language debut in the film, will portray Duran’s gorgeous wife Felicidad.

She’ll star alongside Edgar Ramirez, who’s playing the great fighter, Robert De Niro, who’s playing trainer Ray Arcel, and Usher, who’s playing Sugar Ray Leonard.

Hands of Stone centers on the life of the Panamanian boxer, who was nicknamed “Manos de Piedra” during his career.

de Armas’ first film success was Una rosa de Francia, starring with Alex Gonzalez. She later appeared in other films such as Madrigal by Cuban director Fernando Pérez as well as telenovelas like El último Edén.

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