In the drama helmed by German director Torsten Ruether, the star of the "Mission Impossible" franchise takes on the role of a trainer who mentors a young female fighter. Grindstone Entertainment has jumped into the ring with Ving Rhames, acquiring all North American rights to "Uppercut," a thrilling boxing tale starring the actor known for his roles in "Mission Impossible" and "Pulp Fiction."
In his English-language debut, writer-director Torsten Ruether transforms his 2021 feature "Leberhaken" into "Uppercut," a captivating tale set in gritty Bushwick, New York City, in 2014. The film stars Luiii, aka Luise Grossmann, a former professional pole vaulter turned actress, who plays Toni, a determined fighter seeking out Elliott (Rhames), a former boxer who has turned his life around as the owner of a gym. Initially reluctant to train her, an unexpected bond grows between the unlikely pair, breaking down barriers of social status, race, and personal history.
Years later, Toni has emerged as a pioneering female boxing manager, guiding Payne (Jordan E. Cooper) to his first championship fight. Drawing strength from the wisdom she learned from Elliott, Toni risks everything – even the welfare of her young daughter – to see Payne succeed.
"Leberhaken" premiered at the Oldenburg Film Festival in 2021, where U.S. producers approached Ruether with the idea of creating a U.S. remake. Ruether offered them two versions: a stripped-down arthouse tale, which closed last year's Oldenburg festival, and the more commercial version that Grindstone will soon release.
The deal was brokered by Feig Finkel LLP on behalf of the producers, with Alfredo Lara Orbezo and Ryan McCombs from Sublimity Entertainment negotiating with Stan Wertlieb from Grindstone Entertainment.
Ruether and Grossmann produced "Uppercut" alongside Matthew Berkowitz ("A Violent Man"), Josef Brandmaier ("Iron Sky: The Coming Race"), and Stephen Castor. Jim Rygiel served as executive producer, with Riccardo Maddalosso as co-executive producer.
Wertlieb praised "Uppercut" as a must-see for fight fans, praising the powerful and heartfelt performances delivered by Ving Rhames and Luiii.
"Ving Rhames has delivered another stunning performance, forging an incredible chemistry with Luiii. With a fantastic production crew led by Matthew, we're thrilled to have such a respected and influential team bringing our film to audiences and international buyers," said Ruether. "We're looking forward to keeping moviegoers on the edge of their seats with this thrilling tale of boxing, dreams, and redemption."
Grindstone Entertainment has a longstanding partnership with Lionsgate, releasing its genre titles simultaneously in theaters and on VOD. While a U.S. release date for "Uppercut" has not yet been set, moviegoers can eagerly await this exciting addition to the boxing genre.
