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Real Steel Coming November 18, 2011
Source:ComingSoon.net December 9, 2009


DreamWorks Pictures and Disney's Touchstone Pictures are targeting a November 18, 2011 release for director Shawn Levy's Real Steel, the studios' first project together under their new deal.

In the sci-fi action-adventure, Hugh Jackman will play an ex-fighter who becomes a promoter when human boxing is outlawed for being too violent. The new gladiators are 2,000-pound robots with human qualities. The ex-fighter's access to sub-standard robot parts hampers his hopes for glory in Robot Boxing, until he discovers a discarded robot that always seems to win. The ex-fighter has also discovered he's the father of a 13-year old son, and they bond as the robot brawls its way toward the top.

The premise is based on a short story by Richard Matheson that was adapted into an original "Twilight Zone" episode that starred Lee Marvin.

Nov. 18, 2011 is also when Warner Bros. was planning on releasing George Miller's Happy Feet 2.

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A true Sherlock Holmes!

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Disney Touts 1st DreamWorks Release: 'Real Steel' in 2011
Futuristic drama starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Shawn Levy will kick off studios' distribution deal

By Daniel Frankel
Published: December 09, 2009

The Shawn Levy-directed futuristic drama “Real Steel,” starring Hugh Jackman, will be the first film released under Disney's new distribution deal with DreamWorks, the studio announced Wednesday.

Set to start production next year and premiere on Nov. 18, 2011, “Real Steel” is set in a near-futuristic world, in which the sport of boxing has been ceded to giant robots. Jackman will play a fight manager who teams with his long-lost son to try to take one last shot at the title with a seemingly obsolete robot.

The film is a co-production with Touchstone Pictures and DreamWorks, with Steven Speilberg, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, Josh McLaglen and Mary McLaglen executive producing...

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Touchstone sets 'Real Steel' release for 2011

Hugh Jackman starrer is a first for independent DreamWorks
By Carl DiOrio

Dec 9, 2009, 07:08 PM ET
DreamWorks is coming out swinging.

Touchstone Pictures has set DreamWork's "Real Steel" to hit movie theaters on Nov. 18, 2011, marking the newly independent studio's first release under its output deal with Disney. The Shawn Levy-helmed pic will star Hugh Jackman as a former boxer grabbing one last chance at stardom in the ring by teaming with his long-lost son to train a robot for the Real Steel World Championship.

Directed by Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian"), "Real Steel" is being produced by Levy, Don Murphy and Susan Montford. DreamWorks co-topper Steven Spielberg figures among the pic's exec producers.

Overseas plans for "Real Steel" are pending, but Disney also will handle international theatrical on all DreamWorks films that it distributes domestically, except for India. A unit of DreamWorks principal Reliance Big Entertainment will handle that territory.

DreamWorks also began production recently on the Jay Roach-helmed comedy "Dinner for Schmucks." One of several planned co-productions with Paramount -- which Spielberg and Snider bolted from in the fall to re-create DreamWorks as a private company -- "Schmucks" has been tagged for release by Par next summer.

Disney will distribute up to a half dozen films per year under its domestic theatrical deal with DreamWorks. Terms call for the Disney to receive a 10% distribution fee.

The Burbank studio is helping to arrange a TV distribution arrangement at Showtime for the DreamWorks film slate.

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The Shawn Levy-helmed pic will star Hugh Jackman as a former boxer grabbing one last chance at stardom in the ring by teaming with his long-lost son to train a robot for the Real Steel World Championship.

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Shaw’s next project will be as an assistant editor for the new film “Real Steel” starring Hugh Jackman, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Shawn Levy.

“I had hoped to take a vacation,” Shaw said. “But when a job offer is on the table, I have learned to take it.”

The plan is to shoot the live-action portion of the movie in the Detroit area in June and July.

He said he will be glad to be back in Michigan for a couple of months. “It was great growing up here,” he said. “We had a tight group of friends and didn’t have to worry about anything

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Hugh Jackman coming to Michigan to star in big-budget sci-fi movie

BY JULIE HINDS
FREE PRESS POP CULTURE WRITER



Hugh Jackman is coming to Michigan in a big-budget movie called "Real Steel," a futuristic drama.

"Real Steel” is set to begin filming here in June, a DreamWorks spokesman confirmed today.

It will star Jackman, the versatile actor who plays the superhero Wolverine in the “X-Men” blockbusters. Steven Spielberg is one of the executive producers.

The movie will be filmed primarily in Michigan at locations in metro Detroit and across the state. It’s scheduled to hit theaters in November 2011.

“Real Steel” has applied for the state’s film incentives and been approved, according to the Michigan Film Office.


“The rebate is certainly a primary factor in the decision, but it was incentive along with the diverse looks in Michigan and the cooperation of the state that make this an ideal package for ‘Real Steel,’ ” Steve Molen, DreamWorks Studios’ president of physical production, said in an email.


The budget for the project will be around $80 million, according to Variety.
The DreamWorks Studios production is potentially the biggest-budget movie to come to Michigan since the launch of the tax incentives for filmmaking in 2008.


“Red Dawn,” which filmed here last year, had an estimated budget of more than $40 million. Other recent movies like “Gran Torino” with Clint Eastwood and “Whip It” with Drew Barrymore have brought major stars to town.

“Real Steel” is described as being set against the backdrop of the futuristic sport of robot boxing. Jackman plays a former boxer who teams up with his long-lost son to train a robot for a world championship.

The director is Shawn Levy, who helmed the “Night at the Museum” movies.

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jkap Reviews: Real Steel

MAJOR SPOILERS
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In the near-future, robots have replaced humans as boxers. Story of Charlie Kenton, a down-on-his-luck boxer and his shot at redemption when he unexpectedly finds himself in custody of his 11-year old son, Max.

This is what it’s come down to. Charlie Kenton is dragging his boxer, SUPERNOVA, off to some out-of-the-way fair to fight a…200lb steer! Worse, when Charlie arrives he finds out they’re actually fighting a 2,000lb bull.

Times are hard for Charlie. He lives in his truck. His future is non-existent. He’s barely hanging on. That’s why he agrees to fight the 2,000lb bull and even bets $10,000 that Supernova will win.

RICKY, the boxing promoter, warns Charlie that he will beat Charlie to within an inch of his life if Charlie loses and doesn’t pay up.

The fight is on. And it’s over quickly. The bull tears off Supernova’s left leg and it all goes downhill from there. The bull stomps Supernova into pieces. Charlie’s out $10,000…which he doesn’t have!

With no intentions of paying, Charlie beats a hasty retreat when he’s confronted by TWO GENTLEMEN, stating that Charlie’s ex-wife has died and he now has custody of his 11-yr old son, MAX KENTON.

So, we’re off to Court where we meet young MAX and his AUNT HELEN who has temporary custody. Aunt Helen is wealthy beyond belief (having married three times). Her current husband MARVIN is the one paying all the bills.

It’s here we learn what kind of man Charlie is. He has no interest whatsoever in his son. Doesn’t even want to meet him. He’s perfectly willing to sign some paperwork that will relieve him of custody…until he sees an angle.

He makes a deal with Marvin. He will sign over custody of Max to Aunt Helen in exchange for $100,000. The only hitch is, Marvin and Helen are leaving for a prearranged trip to Italy and won’t return for two months. Charlie gets $50,000 now and retains custody for two months. When the aunt returns, Charlie will turn over custody and get an additional $50,000.

With the newfound money, Charlie is off to the races, buying a new robot – NOISY BOY, with Max in tow.

Max learns Charlie sold him for money. He’s upset. We see though that this isn’t an ordinary 11-year old kid. He’s street smart like this father. Tough as nails. Also, Max knows everything about robot boxing. He’s a rabid fan of the sport.

Charlie takes Noisy Boy to their first fight. Max tags along. However, Noisy Boy loses badly. Max and Charlie cart away the pile of robot parts that used to be Noisy Boy.

They don’t have a robot now. Max knows everything about Charlie. Middleweight. Once had a title shot but got knocked out in the 11th round.

Charlie goes to a scrap metal yard to scrounge for parts so he can build a robot. Max questions how

Charlie can win with a junker robot. Charlie states he doesn’t have to win, he just needs a robot in order to get paid for fights. It’s here that Max realizes Charlie is nothing but a loser and that’s all he will ever be.

Max almost falls down a ravine in the scrap metal yard. His life is saved by a left-for-dead robot who grabs ahold of him, preventing Max’s fall. This is Atom. Grateful, Max vows to save Atom from the scrap heap and lugs him out of the junkyard.

Charlie advises against this. States Atom is just a pile of junk. Max insists. That’s when two robot guard dogs attack. Charlie and Max are separated. The dogs go after Max. Max is able to outmanuever the dogs. The scene is very important because it’s here that Max realizes Charlie ran away and didn’t do a thing to save him. All Charlie cared about was himself.

Charlie inspects the broken down robot that saved Max’ life. It’s the only robot he has left. Worse, Charlie realizes Atom was built to be a sparring robot. Atom is not meant for real boxing.

Max and Atom’s relationship grows as Max teaches Atom how to play hide and seek. It’s like a kid and a dog.

Charlie takes Max to a real boxing match. We see COLOSSUS, the world champion. Colossus doesn’t beat his opponents, he demolishes them. Unbeatable.

Charlie and Max take Atom to his first fight. It’s in a bowling alley. The opponent is METRO. Bigger, stronger, faster than Atom. The payoff is $250 for the first round. An extra $1000 if Atom can make it to the second round.

The first round is brutal. Atom is almost knocked out but barely hangs on to survive the first round. Charlie is ecstatic, they’ve just made $1,250. Metro’s owner states he’ll double the $1,000 if Atom can survive round two. Charlie knows this is impossible but Max takes the bet. Charlie is angry – Max has just thrown away their prize money. Round two starts and Atom, mimicking moves that Max has taught him, actually knocks out Metro. The crowd is stunned.

Max goes to work. Using old parts from Supernova and Noisy Boy, Max enhances Atom. Now he needs Charlie to teach Atom all of his boxing skills.

Atom wins his next fight with Charlie barking out vocal commands. Charlie is in his moment, reliving his glory days through Atom. They are paid $15,000. For the first time in a long time, Charlie is a winner.

That’s when Ricky and his goons reappear. They beat Charlie to within an inch of his life. However, when they attack Max, we see Charlie rise to the occasion. Charlie fights with a wild abandon, protecting his son at all costs. In the end though, there’s too many goons and Charlie goes down. Ricky takes off with all of their prize money.

Broken and battered, Charlie and Max take stock. Their money is gone. All they have left is Atom.

That’s when Colossus’ handlers call. They watched Atom’s fight and offer $50,000 to buy Atom. Max refuses to sell. Instead, they will fight Colossus. A shot at the title will earn them $25,000. If Atom somehow manages to win, the purse is a million bucks. The handlers up their offer to buy Atom to $65,000. Max refuses and the fight is set.

Charlie and Max arrive at Madison Square Garden for the fight. Aunt Helen is there. She states after the fight, she will take Max home with her.

Atom gets the holy hell beat out of him but manages to survive the first round. It’s the first time any robot has managed to get to the second round against Colossus.

Max knows sending Atom out for the second round is suicide – until Atom signals to Max that he wants to go again.

Atom survives the second round and we now see that Colossus is starting to run out of steam.

Charlie calls out commands in a frenzy as Atom actually starts to hurt Colossus, landing punch after punch.

Atom makes it through rounds three and four but suffers heavy damage.

In the 5th, Atom actually knocks Colossus down. The crowd is going crazy.

Colossus gets up and the two robots savagely attack each other with everything they have left. The bell rings. Atom has survived the entire fight against Colossus.

Max and Charlie go to Atom who slumps to the ground. His lights go out. He’s dying.

The judges score the fight a unanimous victory for Colossus.

In despair, Max states he’s a loser. With conviction, Charlie puts Max on his shoulders and parades him in front of the crowd who rise in unison, giving Max a standing ovation.

Max is ontop of the world. He talks to reporters afterwards.

Charlie meets with Aunt Helen. Takes his $50,000 she owes him and slips out the back door without saying goodbye to Max. Once a loser, always a loser.

Charlie’s in his truck with Atom. Along again…until Max shows up with his duffel bag. Father and son are together and ready to take on all challengers



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The script is good. I can see why this is a high priority at DreamWorks. Very well-written and with robots being all the rage at the boxoffice (IRON MAN, TRANSFORMERS, etc,), I can see this film doing very well.

However, with another polish, the script can be great. It’s never explained why human boxing has been outlawed. That’s where they can really elevate Charlie’s character. He could be the reason. He could’ve been involved in the most brutal boxing match ever, coming to within an inch of dying in the ring. His iron-will and his heart kept him from going down. He’s just a bloody pulp at the end of the fight. Afterwards, with the media endlessly replaying the brutal rounds, the lawmakers step in and ban the sport forever.

This way, when the story opens, we see his Charlie’s will has been shattered. His life is meaningless. Yet, boxing is the only thing he knows so he desperately clutches onto it even though it means finding himself in the most-degrading situations, lugging around broken robots, fighting for a paltry $200.

And through Max and Atom, Charlie will rediscover his iron-will and his heart as they climb back up the ranks together, ending in a title shot that has long been denied him.

Also, the polish should work at strengthening Max and Charlie’s relationship. Charlie should see what he once was in Max. Full of love, hope, optimism and sheer blind faith. That anything can be accomplished in only you just believe hard enough. These qualities need to be hit much harder in the script. That way, the scenes will be much more emotionally fulfilling when they succeed in the end.

All in all though, a definite green-light for this script….with just a few provisional tweeks

Note: Due to the production status of this film, the screenplay is currently unavailable here.

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Rating: 3.8/4 (10 votes cast)
jkap Reviews: Real Steel3.8410