Pierce Brosnan has been cast to portray the iconic Irish boxing coach Brendan Ingle in a forthcoming biopic focusing on the dynamic British boxer Prince Naseem Hamed. The film, named “Giant”, will be supervised by Rowan Athale and will explore Hamed’s journey, played by Amir El-Masry, from humble beginnings in Sheffield to earning numerous world titles as a featherweight boxer. Sylvester Stallone, renowned for revitalising boxing films through “Rocky”, is listed as an executive producer.
Despite parting ways with Ingle in 1998, Hamed expressed heartfelt appreciation for his trainer upon his passing in 2018. “Brendan laid the groundwork for my boxing career, shaping me into the boxer I turned out to be,” he shared, “Brendan made an extraordinary contribution to boxing and his presence will be intensely felt by everyone who had the joy of being in his company throughout the years.”
Ingle, born into a large family of 15 siblings in Dublin, was the son of a dockworker. As a teenager, he relocated to Sheffield where he began his journey as a professional fighter while working in the steel industry. After his career ended in 1973, he began coaching at a local church gym at the urging of a vicar. His first victory as a trainer was with Herol “Bomber” Graham, widely regarded as one of the greatest British boxers post-WWII who never claimed a world title, though, his memorable alliance with the fast-talking Hamed may be his most remembered.
Ingle first identified Hamed’s potential when he was only seven years old. He recalled how Hamed, of Yemeni descent, confronted bullies at his school. “No one could lay a finger on him,” Ingle recalled, “I knew then he was exceptional.” Ingle’s achievements with Hamed and other boxers led to him being awarded an MBE and an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University.
As reported by Deadline, the film describes the alliance between “Naz” and Ingle, which catapulted them to unprecedented heights of global fame amongst boxing’s crème de la crème, despite the rampant Islamophobia and racism prevalent in Britain during the 80s and 90s. Initially, the film was slated to be filmed in Malta. However, following the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt’s recent declaration of a new independent movie tax allowance, the production was shifted to the UK.
Brosnan, acclaimed for his role as James Bond in the turn of the millennium, has maintained a robust career. The man from Navan will soon appear alongside Clémence Poésy, portraying a veteran from the Second World War who escapes his nursing home in Terry Loane’s forthcoming film, The Last Rifleman.