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A biopic on boxer Joe Louis is in the works from producers Bill Duke, Gil Adler and Joel Eisenberg.
Duke will also direct the project about Louis’ two historic fights with German boxer Max Schmeling.
Joe Louis Barrow II, the son of the fighter, will also produce.
The news comes via Variety, and the outlet offers the following description:
Joe Louis became a symbolic figure in boxing during early global tensions leading to World War II, becoming among the first U.S. black cultural heroes. Schmeling was exploited as Hitler’s German superman but had no love for the Nazi regime.
Their two fights took place in Yankee Stadium. Schmeling handed Louis his first loss in their first fight in 1936; Louis knocked out Schmeling in the first round of their rematch in 1938.
