This biopic about the world champion boxer-turned-preacher is coming to theaters in the spring.
From an Olympic gold medal before he turned 20, to two world heavyweight championships separated by two decades later in life, the journey of George Foreman is made for the silver screen. And his turn to Christianity and the pulpit in between those pro-boxing titles makes this a natural choice for Affirm Films, the faith-based division of Sony Pictures that is behind it.
Judging by the powerful trailer, Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World seems to capture all of the now 74-year-old Texas native's incredible life story, starting from an impoverished childhood that included violence and petty crime on the streets of Houston. The adult Foreman is portrayed by actor Khris Davis, who though convincing, does not quite capture the imposing physique and awesome brute strength of the 6'4'' boxer who won nearly 90% of his victories by knockout.
The film seems to feature plenty of action in the ring, including the so-called Rumble in the Jungle, when Foreman lost his first world title to Muhammed Ali in 1974 in Zaire. It also dwells on the transition to his Christian faith and life as a pastor after nearly dying following a bout in 1977. A ten-year hiatus from the sport then led to a comeback and an eventual second world heavyweight title in 1994, making him the oldest ever champion at 45 years of age.
Foreman's incredible personal life - he has 12 children, five of whom are boys named George, his business success - he made hundreds of millions of dollars from his George Foreman grills, and the people who helped shape him round out the picture of the man. Among the supporting actors in the film is Oscar-winning, Hollywood veteran Forest Whitaker in the role of Charles "Doc" Broadus, the boxing trainer who discovered and molded the young Foreman.
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World releases in theaters on April 28th. The trailer below is dynamic and will give you a good feel for what looks like a particularly compelling faith-based biopic about arguably one of the most intriguing athletes on the American sporting scene in recent history.