Check out the newly released trailer for “Chuck”, the new biopic telling the story of Chuck Wepner, “The Bayonne Bleeder”, and one-time Heavyweight Champion of New Jersey.
The movie, formerly titled “The Bleeder” stars Liev Schreiber in the title role of the fighter who once went the distance in the ring with Muhammad Ali, lasting 15 rounds with the champ.
It was this boxing match that inspired a young Sylvester Stallone to craft the screenplay for his masterpiece, “Rocky”, and which caused Wepner to hold a lifelong grudge due to not having been credited for his part in the inspiration of the mega film franchise.
“Then some guy named Stallone wrote a screenplay inspired by me…”
The trailer shows a glimpse of Wepner meeting with Sylvester Stallone, played by 36 year old actor Morgan Spector, best known for his role in the Prohibition-era HBO drama “Boardwalk Empire.” Spector, whose brooding looks are more reminiscent of DeNiro than Stallone, bears such little resemblance to 28-year-old Sly that it gives the Stallone/Wepner meeting scene difficult limited believability.
Good looking 41-year-old actor Pooch Hall takes the role of Muhammad Ali, who was 33 at the time of his battle with the Bleeder in 1975. An experienced athlete (including boxing and football), Hall is also a producer, model and rapper. Though nowhere near as pretty as The Champ, Hall does a serviceable job as Ali.
Directed by Philippe Falardeau, “Chuck” received good reviews at the 2016 Venice Film Festival, and is slated to open in US theatres on May 5, 2017.
