Real Steel” by DreamWorks Pictures‘ debuts next month and I got a sneak peek back in June and I can’t wait for it to hit theaters!  On the outside t,his is a futuristic boxing movie – not my kind of movie.  But on the inside, this is a movie about relationships, comebacks, and being human and so it’s so me.

Hugh Jackman in REAL STEELDirector Shawn Levy explains the “Real Steel” story as a tale of redemption for three lost and forgotten souls. “The main characters––a father, his son and a machine––are each abandoned beings,” the director says. “All three of them have been cast aside and forgotten. The substance of the story is about how this trinity has a chance of returning to grace.”

DreamWorks put together a dream cast led by Hugh Jackman (“X‐Men Origins: Wolverine,” “The Prestige”).  He plays Charlie Kenton, the washed-up boxer whose livelihood has been squashed by the change to 8′-steel robot bouts in the world of boxing. He begins to do some low-end, underground boxing matches, trying to earn whatever money he can get.

Evangeline Lilly of “Lost” fame plays the character Bailey.  I adored Angeline in her role on “Lost” and evidently so did director Levy who gushed, ‘I marvel at Evangeline.  I was crazy for her on ‘Lost.’ I was a big fan of that series. I always knew she was good, but I didn’t know that she was great. And in ‘Real Steel’ not only does she deliver in the big dramatic scenes between her and Dakota and her and Hugh but also even when she was in a crowd of thousands of people reacting to the fights. In those tiny short cutaways within the fight scenes she brings so much visceral, rousing energy. She was kind of an audience surrogate for us. She is so into it and so vested in what happens.”

For Charlie, life gets even more complicated when his previously-estranged 10-year-old son Max, played by Dakota Goyo is thrust into his life.  This adorable little guy works so beautifully on the big screen in the previews I’ve seen.  The father/son duo end up teaming up to take a scrap-heap robot and turn it into a contender.

“Fight smart, be patient…and pray.” —Charlie Kenton

Kevin Durand plays the role of Ricky, a robot fight promoter who, while a friend of Charlie’s, is bent on collecting the money he owes him.  Kevin previously worked with both Hugh and Evangeline.

The cast is rounded out by Anthony Mackie (“The Adjustment Bureau,” “The Hurt Locker”) as Fin, the host of the Crash Palace; Hope Davis (Tony® Award nominee “God of Carnage”) for the role of Max’s aunt, Deborah, who has her heart set on getting custody of her nephew;  James Rebhorn (“White Collar,” “30 Rock”) who portrays Marvin Barnes, Deborah’s wealthy older husband; Russian actress Olga Fonda, as the Russian robot owner; and Karl Yune (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Speed Racer”) who brings the character of Tak Mashido the world’s premiere robot designer and the pioneering legend behind the sport of robot boxing to life.

Official DreamWorks “Real Steel” Trailer

I’m so excited about this film and I’ll be bringing more information about the cast, the robots, and behind-the-scenes in the next few weeks.  Until then, mark your calendar to see “Real Steel” in theaters nationwide on October 7, 2011.

DreamWorks "Real Steel" International 1-Sheet Poster

DreamWorks “Real Steel” International 1-Sheet Poster

REAL STEEL

DREAMWORKS PICTURES

Connect

Genre:                          Action-Drama

Rating:                          PG-13

U.S. Release date:        October 7, 2011

Cast & Crew:

Hugh Jackman – Charlie Kenton
Dakota Goyo – Max
Evangeline Lilly – Bailey
Kevin Durand – Ricky
Anthony Mackie – Finn
Shawn Levy – Director
John Gatins – Writer
Don Murphy – Producer
Susan Montford – Producer
Shawn Levy – Producer
Steven Spielberg – Executive Producer
Robert Zemeckis – Executive Producer
Jack Rapke – Executive Producer
Steve Starkey – Executive Producer
Mary McLaglen – Executive Producer
Josh McLaglen – Executive Producer
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Photo Credit:  DreamWorks Pictures and used with permission
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