Eminem's Hollywood Comeback Gets Knocked Out, DreamWorks TKO's Boxing Flick

Oscar-winning rapper Eminem's dream of making a triumphant Hollywood return has been temporarily sidelined as reports claim movie studio DreamWorks dropped his Southpaw boxing film.
Details of the studio's unexpected decision hit the Internet Friday (August 12).
Eminem's planned return to screen acting just took one on the jaw. Southpaw, a story scripted by Kurt Sutter ("Sons of Anarchy") that would star the rapper as a lefty boxer whose life and career fall prey to tragedy, was picked up as a pitch by DreamWorks last year. But the studio today cut the project loose. Sutter and attached director Antoine Fuqua (himself a one-time Golden Gloves fighter) are free to take it elsewhere. (Slash Film)Movie blogs speculate DreamWorks' decision may have been inspired by an oversaturation of boxing-themed films over the past few years.
Maybe DreamWorks was concerned the market is crowded with brawler films after The Fighter and the upcoming Gavin O'Connor-directed mixed martial arts drama Warrior, or maybe the studio's cautious after its big bet on Cowboys & Aliens didn't pay off. (Deadline)In June, Training Day director Antoine Fuqua reportedly became hired to helm the film.
Just over a year ago we heard director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Shooter, Brooklyn's Finest) was set to helm a biopic about the late rapper Tupac Shakur. That project was supposed to begin production last September, but for some reason still hasn't gotten off the ground. Now 24 Frames reports that although Fuqua was still slated to direct the film as of last month, apparently he has since stepped away from the project and has moved onto another one with a living hip-hop artist. Apparently the director is now circling Southpaw, a new boxing drama which already has Marshall Mathers, or rather Eminem, attached to star. (First Showing)A few months ago, Eminem hinted at his plans to make a return to the big screen after debuting in 2002's 8 Mile blockbuster hit.
"There are some things in the [works], a couple of scripts," Eminem answered. "I guess it's more so of just waiting now to see how they come together. Obviously it's gotta be something that I feel is dope enough to make me want to say, 'OK, let me put the mic down for a second and go do this movie.' There are some things that are in the works. I guess we'll just see how they come together." (RapFix)