Former champion boxer and hit movie producer team up for Broadway production. Will it be an epic fail or instant hit?
By: Taren Vaughan
One of the best to ever do it, Producer Spike Lee has made his footprint in the film industry, capturing both the struggles and triumphs that members of the African American community have endured over the past decades. From Malcolm X to School Daze, Lee has been the mastermind behind numerous classic Black films that are still watched to this day, all of which he himself starred in.
As making movies is his thing, his next project won’t be hitting the big screen however. Instead it will be headed to the Broadway stage, starring former heavyweight champ himself ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
The one-man show, “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth”, is said to be highlighting the turmoil-filled moments throughout Tyson’s career including the 1992 rape conviction where he spent three years in jail. The show won’t just be zooming in on the negatives aspects as it will also include notable moments from the record-breaking boxing matches that he fought in.
In interview that he did with Business Week, Tyson spoke about the play, saying that viewers will have mixed emotions throughout it:
“You’ll laugh, cry, be bewildered.”
Anything Spike Lee is behind is virtually guaranteed to be a hit. But judging by who is taking on the lead role in this one, strong doubts may be in heavy rotation. Sports fan or not, the talented boxer’s troubled past has been revisited over and over again by many. And it seems that he will never live down the moment where he treated Evander Holyfield’s ear like a piece of meat fresh off the grill. But as always, Spike Lee develops a deaf ear to the critics. And being the risk taker that he is, he’s giving Tyson a shot.
Mike Tyson in a Broadway production…Is Spike Lee in over his head or will the play go down as one of his greatest productions?