While Creed took the crown when it came to boxing dramas last year, another contender enters the ring in 2016 with Hands of Stone. Coming from writer-director Jonathan Jakubowicz, Carlos star Edgar Ramirez is portraying the famous Panamanian professional boxer Roberto Duran, while Robert De Niro takes on the role of trainer Ray Arcel. Fighting Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler and more, the boxer won 103 out of 119 fights, cementing him as one of the best in his field.
“I think it’s a great movie,” Ramirez tells Variety. “It not only tells the tale of a legendary Latin American boxer, it also tells the story of a man who became a hero in his country and his region. Panama has somehow always been a country under foreign control, so there’s always been a question of identity. Roberto Duran in many moments, including in some of the most difficult moments in the country’s history, has served as an instrument of unification and celebration of the pride of the country, and that’s is very beautiful.”
The first two teasers have now landed, one running a minute and the other about thirty seconds, which shows off some of the action in and outside of the ring. Also starring Usher Raymond, Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin, and John Turturro, check out the teasers and poster below for the film landing in August.
HANDS OF STONE follows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year‐old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more.)
Hands of Stone opens on August 26th.