DreamWorks "Steels" for its Autumn Release

May 31 2011

"Real Steel" the action packed, white knuckle ride movie from DreamWorks is the story of a once great boxer Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman). Just missing out on the world number one title, Charlie is now a small time boxing promoter for a sport which has changed beyond recognition. No longer do men fight in the ring, eight foot tall, steel robots now fight to the death in the World Robot Boxing League. Barely making enough money to get by, Charlie fights scrap metal robots in illegal street fights. When Max, Charlie's estranged son turns up, they decide to team up and cruise the boxing circuits together. One night Max finds a half buried old robots in a junk yard full of spare robot parts. Max convinces Charlie that Atom, the robot, is able to fight, and reluctantly he takes Max and Atom to an illegal fight. Soon the pair's fortunes start to change as Atom manages to win.



DreamWorks cast Hugh Jackman as the star of the movie with Evangeline Lilly (LOST) and Kevin Durand (Robin Hood) to support. The director also brought in the legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard to train Jackman, as well as consult on the robot on robot fight scenes which were created using motion capture technology. The film makers made 19 full size function robots for the movie. This gives the robots an authentic look, especially in movement. 



"Steel" written by Richard Matheson, writer of "I am Legend", is the basis of the story, with Dan Gilroy transforming the short story into a screenplay. Dreamworks originally bought the screenplay, when still in partnership with Paramount, for a reported $850,000, and it was one of the titles which DreamWorks retained upon the split in 2008.



It was not until 2010 however that filming started as a number of edits to the script were required. Les Bohem and John Gatins were commissioned to adapt the story, bringing the human relationships to the forefront of the movie and taking the emphasis away from the robot boxing story. The setting was also softened from the original cityscape with the writers using traditional American living, using film locations such as areas around Michigan and Detroit. 



"Real Steel" is an action filled, high octane movie where a man and a boy become Father and Son, and an old abandoned robot becomes a star.

"Real Steel" is released in UK cinemas on 7th October 2011.