De Niro back in Cannes ‘boxing film’ – Schwarzenegger joins ‘Why We’re Killing Gunther’

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PARIS, May 4, (Agencies): Robert De Niro goes back into the ring in a new boxing movie to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival later this month, 36 years after his Oscar-winning performance in “Raging Bull”.

De Niro, 72, who starred as Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese’s 1980 classic, plays trainer Ray Arcel in “Hands of Stone”, a biopic about one of the greatest Latino fighters of all time, Roberto Duran.

The movie tells the story of the Panamanian brawler (played by Edgar Ramirez) who took the WBC welterweight title from Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, only to shock the world by walking back to his corner in the rematch five months later saying, “No more.”

Duran — who began his professional career at 16 — fought on till he was 50.

“I’m excited to be coming back to Cannes especially with this movie that I’m so proud of,” said De Niro who will appear at a special screening of the film in his honour.

Producer Harvey Weinstein said: “’Hands of Stone’ is vintage De Niro. Anyone who knows Bob, knows what a passion he has for boxing and his huge input into this movie made it very realistic and smart.”

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De Niro starred in two films which won Cannes’ top prize, the Palme d’Or — Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” in 1976 and “Mission” by the British director Roland Joffe 10 years later.

“Hands of Stone”, directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz, will be released internationally in August and September.

Cannes, the most prestigious Film Festival in the world, runs from May 11 to 22 in the French Riviera resort.

Jonathan Jakubowicz’s “Hands of Stone,” one of The Weinstein Company’s biggest swings of 2016, will receive an Official Selection Special Screening at this year’s Cannes Festival as a tribute to Robert De Niro.

The May 16 Screening will be held in the Palais des Festivals’ Grand Theatre Lumiere. Produced, distributed and sold internationally by The Weinstein Company, “Hands of Stone” tracks the rise to glory of Panamanian boxing legend Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez) and his celebrated fights with Sugar Ray Leonard. De Niro plays this manager and coach, Ray Arcel.

“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.”

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“‘Hands of Stone’ is vintage De Niro. Anyone who knows Bob, knows what a passion he has for boxing and his huge input into this movie made it very realistic and smart,” added Harvey Weinstein.

He added: “On behalf of the company, we are thrilled that the Festival de Cannes chose to honor Bob this year with a special screening. It promises to be a fun time and a fantastic night to pay tribute to one of the great men of our industry.”

Having taken international sales, The Weinstein Company swooped on domestic distribution rights at the 2015 Cannes Festival, committing to release Roberto Duran’s life story on at least 2,000 screens.

“Hands of Stone” is produced by Jay Weisleder, Carlos Garcia de Paredes, Claudine Jakubowicz and Jonathan Jakubowicz.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: Arnold Schwarzenegger is joining the comedy “Why We’re Killing Gunther” with Taran Killam directing from his own script.

Killam will also star with Bobby Moynihan and Cobie Smulders. MadRiver Pictures will begin international sales next week in Cannes with UTA repping North American rights.

Principal photography is slated for June. Paul Brittain, Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley”), Randall Park (“Fresh Off the Boat”) and Ryan Gaul will also star.

Producers are Kim Leadford, Killam, Ash Sarohia and Steve Squillante. StarStream Media will finance.

Schwarzenegger will portray the titular Gunther, the world’s greatest hitman who’s also arrogant, a show-off and steals jobs. The assassin community is tired of him and a group of eccentric killers from across the globe come together to set the perfect trap, but their master plan quickly turns into a series of embarrassing fails as Gunther always appears one step ahead.

Killam has been on “Saturday Night Live” since 2010 and married Smulders in 2012. He worked with Moynihan on “Grown Ups 2” and with Smulders on “How I Met Your Mother.”

Schwarzenegger can next be seen in “The Legend of Conan” for Universal.

Schwarzenegger is represented by CAA and attorney Patrick Knapp. Killam, Moynihan, Nanjiani, Park and Smulders are represented by UTA. Gaul is represented by the Gersh Agency, and Brittain is represented by APA.

MadRiver Pictures is a film finance, production and international sales company. It expanded operations in February by launching an international sales arm under Kim Fox.

LOS ANGELES: “How to Get Away with Murder” regular Charlie Weber has been tapped to star in the political thriller “Ex-Patriot,” Variety has learned exclusively.

Marvista Entertainment is producing with shooting currently taking place in Bogota, Colombia. Conor Allyn is directing from a script he wrote with Jake Allyn.

The story follows a CIA analyst-turned-whistle blower who flees to Colombia for a life of penance and obscurity. When she is tracked down by her former flame, portrayed by Weber, he enlists her help in taking down a money-laundering magnate with supposed ties to terrorism but a personal vendetta proves that no one can be trusted.

The film is a joint venture between Marvista Entertainment and Caracol. Kristofer McNeeley is producing with Alejandro Toro Canal. Fernando Szew, Stephanie Slack and Felipe Boshell will serve as executive producers.

Weber stars as Frank Delfino, an employee of the main law firm in ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder.” He was a regular on “Underemployed” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

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