Mike Tyson is in no way involved with the drama of the team behind ‘I, Tonya’, and launched the streamer for what he calls “cultural misappropriation” of his life story.
Hulu is entering the ring.
Disney’s supported streamer is turning its lenses back to polarizing boxer Mike Tyson with a limited series appropriately titled Iron Mike.
From the team behind I, Tonya, the eight-episode series will explore the wild, tragic and controversial life and career behind what the streamer calls “one of the most polarizing figures in sports culture”. Tyson is not involved with the series in any way, although sources say that Hulu executives informed him and his team about the series a few months ago.
“Hulu’s announcement to make an unauthorized miniseries of my life, while unfortunate, is not surprising,” Tyson said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “This announcement in the wake of social disparities in our country is an excellent example of how Hulu’s corporate greed led to this misappropriation of my life story. Making this announcement during Black History Month only confirms Hulu’s concern about dollars regarding respect for the rights of black history. Hollywood needs to be more sensitive to black experiences, especially after everything that happened in 2020. My authorized story is in development and will be announced in the next few days. “
(Hulu declined to comment on Tyson’s statement.)
Me, tonya screenwriter Steven Rogers created the series, with Karin Gist (Mixed) attached to serve as showrunner and executive producer. The series comes from Disney’s 20th Television. Me, tonya Helmer Craig Gillespie will also serve as the executive producer and director of the series. Fellow executive producers include Me, tonyait’s Margot Robbie and her colleagues at LuckyChap, Tom Ackerley and Brett Hedblom. Entertainment 360’s Darin Friedman will also serve as executive producer alongside Bryan Unkeless and Scott Morgan of Clubhouse Pictures.
Although Tyson is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, he was convicted of rape and served three years of a six-year prison term. Tyson staged a comeback in boxing after his release and lost in a 1997 rematch against Evander Holyfield, in which he was disqualified for biting a piece of his opponent’s ear. He retired in 2006, but returned to the ring against Roy Jones Jr. last year.
On the entertainment side, he performed in 2009 The Hangover and joined Spike Lee to bring his solo show to Broadway. The production aired on HBO in 2013. He published a New York Times best-selling autobiography and several animated series covered, including Adult Swim’s Mike Tyson’s Mysteries. He also produced the feature Champions, a boxing doctor who examined the lives and careers of Tyson, Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins.
Iron Mike is on a fast-growing LuckyChap list that also includes Hulu’s Kat Dennings comedy Doll face, Netflix Drama by John Wells Maid and resources Promising young woman, among others.
Iron Mike comes as Hulu continues to turn its lens on pop culture. The streamer last year ordered Pam and Tommy, a limited eight-episode series focused on former tabloid favorites Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, with Sebastian Stan and Lily James set to star. (Anderson and Lee are not involved with the show.)