The script review mentions Jackman's character is willing to take care of his son in exchange of money which will be used to buy a robot boxer.
- Dec 8, 2010
AceShowbiz - Before putting on his claws for "The Wolverine", Hugh Jackman will be seen as a robot boxing promoter in "Real Steel". Now, plot details of the film have come out as io9 claims to have obtained a draft script. The site notes that some things could change before and during filming since the script is not the final version.
Taking place in the near future after human boxing has been outlawed, the movie is set during the time when the only boxing that remains is robot boxing. [SPOILER ALERT!] The robot boxing champion is Colossus, created by robot boxing whiz kid Tak Mashido. Colossus is autonomous and constantly evolving during a fight and he will be seen destroying up-and-coming robot challenger called Axelrod.
This game is so expensive and Jackman's character Charlie can only join an underground circuit. A down-on-his-luck former boxer who was never really a contender himself, Charlie tries to become a contender by buying a robot called Noisy Boy, but he can't get anybody to lend him the money or go into business with him.
At almost the same time, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Mary dies suddenly, leaving their eleven-year-old son, Max. He doesn't want the kid, but a family situation arises where he'll keep his son for a couple months in exchange for cash, after which Max's aunt and uncle will take him. He is then left furious after learning that Noisy Boy has been sold.
Later, Charlie and Max end up bonding over boxing, and the two turn into a formidable team. Max is described as a boy who isn't cloying or a pushover. The script review goes on claiming that "the characters are engaging enough that you care whether their dreams get crushed, and the robot boxing milieu is colorful and beautifully violent enough to recharge all of the old 'sports movie' cliches."
"Real Steel" is directed by Shawn Levy. Dakota Goyo is cast as Charlie's son Max, with the likes of Hope Davis, Anthony Mackie and Evangeline Lilly taking other roles. The action sci-fi is now set to open wide Stateside on October 7, 2011 after pushed up from its old slot of November 18 the same year.
