Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke will star in a boxing feature film called “Tiger” to be filmed in Hamilton and Cincinnati.
The Hamilton Film Office held auditions last week for “Tiger,” looking particularly for “any boxing/sports enthusiasts.”
Rourke, nominated for a 2009 Academy Award for “The Wrestler,” will play Frank Donovan in the movie, which is based on a true story.
The International Movie Datebase describes "Tiger" as a film "about a man banned from the sport of boxing until he wouldn't back down and stood up for his beliefs. The screenplay also addresses racial profiling along with a courtroom battle, with well developed characters."
The Ohio Film Office has approved an estimated $774,854 motion picture tax credit for the independent production, says Katie Sabatino, film office communications manager.
“Tiger” will be the fifth film shot here this year, and the second in Hamilton. James Franco and Hamilton native Vince Jolivette filmed “The Long Home” in and around Hamilton in May, while also producing “Goat” in Cincinnati last spring starring Nick Jonas. Bruce Willis and Christopher Meloni filmed “Marauders” here In September, and Grammy-winner Mariah Carey directed and starred in “A Christmas Melody” for the Hallmark Channel in October.
Rourke’s credits include “Diner,” “Iron Man 2,” “Rumble Fish,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Nine ½ Weeks,” “Sin City,” “1941” and “Wild Orchid.”
Appearing in a boxing film won’t be a stretch for Rourke, who won his first boxing match at age 12. He compiled an amateur boxing record of 27 wins and 3 defeats from 1964 to 1973, according to his IMDB bio. He returned to fight as a professional 1991-95.
Although he failed to win the Oscar for “The Wrestler,” Rourke won the Golden Globes Award for best movie actor in 2009 for playing Randy “The Ram” Robinson in the film.
