Sylvester Stallone has joined forces with director Rowan Athale to support a new Sylvester Stallone boxing film, “Giant,” which stars Pierce Brosnan and rising talent Amir El-Masry. Premiering at the Red Sea Film Festival, the highly anticipated film dives into the dramatic life of real-world featherweight champion Prince Naseem ‘Naz’ Hamed and explores complex relationships within the boxing world.
How Childhood Inspiration Led to a Boxing Epic
Rowan Athale’s journey with boxing movies began at five years old when he saw Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T on a Rocky 3 videotape in Sheffield, England. The image sparked Athale’s love for the sport and the genre, ultimately guiding him, decades later, to create a boxing drama backed by Stallone himself. This marks a full-circle moment, as Athale’s early passion transformed into a professional partnership with one of the genre’s most iconic figures.
The Real Story Behind ‘Giant’
“Giant” draws from the incredible true story of Prince Naseem Hamed, a British–Yemeni boxer who held several featherweight world titles between 1995 and 2000. The film traces Naz’s meteoric rise and the eventual breakdown of his mentor relationship with trainer Brendan Ingle, brought to life by Pierce Brosnan. Amir El-Masry takes on the challenging role of Naz, delving deep into the champion’s path and the pressures he faced inside and outside the ring.
Casting Brosnan and El-Masry: Rising to the Challenge
Securing Pierce Brosnan for the role of Brendan Ingle was a pivotal moment for Athale. Brosnan was initially considered dream casting due to his fame and commitments to films like Steven Soderbergh’s “Black Bag” and Guy Ritchie’s “MobLand.” Athena’s producer, Stuart Ford of AGC Studios, encouraged pursuing the actor despite the odds.
Two weeks after reaching out, Athale experienced an unexpected moment.
“It was a phone call from Malibu, and I thought it was one of Pierce’s agents,”
recalls Athale.
“I was at the vegetable section of [food store] Morrison’s when I answered the phone, and it’s Pierce,”
he continues.
“I walked around the supermarket for 20 minutes giving him the pitch, which was bizarre. A day later, he was in.”
— Rowan Athale, Director
Amir El-Masry was chosen to play Prince Naseem, standing out for his performances in “Limbo” and “The Crown.” El-Masry had only weeks to prepare due to Brosnan’s busy schedule and had never boxed before.
“What he did in this film should be talked about in drama classes and film school,”
remarks Athale.
“Two weeks into prep, Amir had never boxed in his life. By the time we shoot the movie, he looks like [Prince Naseem]. It’s superhuman. I had never seen anything like that.”
— Rowan Athale, Director
Sylvester Stallone: Executive Producer and Boxing Authority
The collaboration with Stallone, whose own reputation in boxing films is legendary, materialized after Athale’s previous project, “Little America,” with Stallone as the planned lead, was delayed by the pandemic. Eager for a new challenge, Stallone, at the helm of Balboa Productions, inquired about Athale’s ongoing projects.
“I told him I had a boxing film and he said: ‘I know a thing or two about those,’”
reveals Athale. — Rowan Athale, Director
With Stallone and his producing partner eager to read the script, Athale found them deeply engaged in both creative and industry aspects.
“He and his producer wanted to read the script, then they came back with notes, but said they wanted to be involved with it and they could help open doors from the boxing side,”
adds Athale.
“It was this wonderful thing that he was able to do both creatively and in terms of the seal of approval he gave us.”
— Rowan Athale, Director
Athale confirmed that “Little America” is back on track with plans to shoot in 2026.
“The market is there for it, the project sold around the world, which was an incredible reception. So we are ready to turn our heads back to this one.”
— Rowan Athale, Director
A Deeply Personal and Social Film Debuts at Red Sea
Opening at the Red Sea Film Festival is a point of pride for Athale. He describes the moment as an immense privilege and a particular honor considering the film’s focus.
“I haven’t been to the festival before, but I’ve followed it and seeing Spike Lee there last year, Sean Baker this year, it’s wonderful company to be in.”
— Rowan Athale, Director
“Giant” addresses the realities and prejudice faced by Muslims in Britain during the 1980s, linking the film’s themes to Athale’s own experiences growing up mixed race in Sheffield.
“To be able to show the film in the Arab world and have a conversation here is meaningful. I’m not Muslim, but I am mixed race and my brothers and I faced many of the experiences you see in the film growing up in Sheffield.”
— Rowan Athale, Director
Hollywood Connections and Saudi’s Growing Industry
During his stay in Jeddah, Athale is keen to connect with local production houses and explore Saudi Arabia’s film infrastructure.
“I have developed a script with [Saudi-based media company] MBC before and that was a wonderful experience,”
he recalls.
“Part of being in Saudi is seeing the new Hollywood. Many of my colleagues who have been lucky to be invited to Red Sea said the facilities are state-of-the-art and there is a lot of passion behind it. It’s a very hardworking culture and people. If an opportunity arises, that is something I would definitely do.”
— Rowan Athale, Director
What’s Next for ‘Giant’ and Its Creators
With “Giant” launching to a prestigious audience at the Red Sea Film Festival and recognized with the approval of icons like Sylvester Stallone and Pierce Brosnan, the film stands poised to make a significant impact in both sports cinema and conversations about cultural identity. As Athale continues to develop new projects and explores deeper partnerships in regions like Saudi Arabia, the legacy of “Giant” looks set to inspire boxing fans and film lovers alike, highlighting the global reach and ongoing relevance of the Sylvester Stallone boxing film genre.
