‘Giant’ Director Rowan Athale Shares How He Recruited Pierce Brosnan for Boxing Film, Earned Sylvester Stallone’s Approval, and Teases Their Future Collaboration

British-Indian director Rowan Athale, known for The Rise, first encountered the world of boxing films as a five-year-old in Sheffield, England, when he saw Rocky III on a video store cover featuring Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T. That early experience ignited his fascination with both cinema and boxing narratives, a passion that would come full circle decades later with his own boxing drama, Giant.

Premiering at this years Red Sea Film Festival, Giant draws inspiration from the real-life story of Prince Naseem Naz Hamed, a British-Yemeni featherweight champion who dominated between 1995 and 2000. The film explores the rise and fall of Hameds relationship with his coach Brendan Ingle, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan.

Athale admits Brosnan was a top choice for the role but initially seemed out of reach due to his schedule and high-profile projects like Steven Soderberghs Black Bag and Guy Ritchies MobLand. Encouraged by producer Stuart Ford of AGC Studios, Athale reached out, leading to a memorable phone call from Brosnan in a supermarket, after which the actor immediately joined the project.

Finding the right actor for Naz was critical. British-Egyptian talent Amir El-Masry, known for Limbo and The Crown, stepped into the role with only weeks to prepare. Athale praises El-Masrys dedication, noting how he transformed into Hamed despite having no prior boxing experience, achieving a performance that Athale describes as superhuman.

Sylvester Stallone joined Giant as an executive producer after Athales earlier project, Little America, was delayed by the pandemic. Stallone, heading Balboa Productions, offered creative guidance and industry support, providing what Athale calls a seal of approval for the film.

With Little America now slated to shoot in 2026, Athale is focused on Giant and the honor of opening the Red Sea Film Festival. He emphasizes the significance of sharing a story addressing the challenges and prejudice faced by Muslims in 1980s Britain, noting the personal resonance with his own experiences growing up in Sheffield as a mixed-race individual.

During his week in Jeddah, Athale is also exploring local production facilities and networking with producers, highlighting the high level of professionalism and passion in the regions emerging film industry. He expresses interest in potential future collaborations, inspired by previous work with Saudi-based media company MBC.

Author: Natalie Monroe