The Fire Inside (film) explained
The Fire Inside is an upcoming American biographical sports film by Rachel Morrison in her feature directional debut. The film is based on T-Rex, a 2015 documentary about American professional boxer Claressa "T-Rex" Shields training for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Ryan Destiny stars as the lead, alongside Judy Greer and Brian Tyree Henry.
Development began in October 2016 with Barry Jenkins adapting the documentary for Universal Pictures under the title Flint Strong. Morrison joined to direct in June 2019 with Michael De Luca, Elishia Holmes, Zackary Canepari, and Drea Cooper to produce alongside Jenkins. Destiny was added in November, and Ice Cube and Greer were cast in early 2020. Filming began in Toronto in March 2020, but was halted two days later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was scheduled to resume in June 2021. However, Cube left in October and Universal put the film in turnaround. It was then picked up by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in May 2022 with Henry and Oluniké Adeliyi joining the cast and filming resuming that month.
The Fire Inside is set to premiere in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024 and is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 25, 2024, by Amazon MGM Studios through their Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer label.
Plot
Claressa "T-Rex" Shields trains to box in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Cast
Production
On October 7, 2016, Universal Pictures hired Barry Jenkins to adapt the 2015 documentary T-Rex with the possibility to direct the film.[4] On June 19, 2019, Rachel Morrison was set to make her directorial debut on Flint Strong; Jenkins would produce with Michael De Luca and Elishia Holmes, while Zackary Canepari and Drea Cooper, who worked on T-Rex would serve as executive producers.[5]
On November 13, 2019, Ryan Destiny was cast as Claressa "T-Rex" Shields.[6] On February 5, 2020, Ice Cube was cast as Shields' coach, Jason Crutchfield.[7] Judy Greer was added on May 14.[8] However, on October 29, 2021, it was reported that Cube had left the project after refusing to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to film Oh Hell No (now titled Stepdude) for Columbia Pictures, putting the film in turnaround.[9]
Principal photography began at Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto on March 11, 2020, but on March 13, production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] [11] [12] In an interview with The Guardian, Shields stated that production was set to resume in June 2021.[13] However, the project entered a long delay due to being offloaded by Universal. It would be picked up by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and on May 25, 2022, Brian Tyree Henry joined the cast to replace Cube and Oluniké Adeliyi joined to play Shields' mother, with filming resuming later that month.[14] On July 6, 2022, De'Adre Aziza joined the cast as Mickey, Crutchfield's wife. [15] In July of 2022, filming took place in Hamilton, Ontario, where the FirstOntario Centre was used as an Olympic boxing venue.[16]
Release
In July 2024, The Fire Inside was announced as part of the Special Presentations section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival scheduled for September 7, 2024.[17]
The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 25, 2024.[18]
Marketing
First look images from the film were released by People on July 26, 2024, coinciding with the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[19]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Flint Strong Cinematographer. 2022-06-22. 2022-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20220622232255/https://mubi.com/de/films/flint-strong. live.
- Web site: Harry Yoon. 2023-04-25. 2022-06-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604030950/https://gersh.com/production/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/YOON-H.-RES.pdf. live.
- Web site: Whittock . Jesse . 2023-05-08 . Amazon MGM Studios Distribution To Launch At LA Screenings . 2023-09-13 . Deadline . en-US . 2023-05-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230508180524/https://deadline.com/2023/05/amazon-mgm-studios-distribution-la-screenings-1235356076/ . live .
- Web site: Mike Jr.. Fleming. 'Moonlight's Barry Jenkins To Script Story Of First American Female Gold Medal Boxer Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields. October 7, 2016. Deadline Hollywood. November 14, 2019. January 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200108164655/https://deadline.com/2016/10/barry-jenkins-claressa-t-rex-shields-movie-universal-pictures-moonlight-1201832804/. live.
- Web site: Justin. Kroll. 'Black Panther' DP Rachel Morrison to Make Directorial Debut on Barry Jenkins Script 'Flint Strong'. June 19, 2018. Variety. November 14, 2019. November 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191126034435/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/rachel-morrison-barry-jenkins-flint-strong-black-panther-1203247673/. live.
- Web site: Amanda. N’Duka. Ryan Destiny To Lead The Rachel Morrison-Directed Boxing Drama 'Flint Strong'. November 13, 2019. Deadline Hollywood. November 14, 2019. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804083626/https://deadline.com/2019/11/ryan-destiny-rachel-morrison-flint-strong-universal-1202785406/. live.
- Web site: Justin. Kroll. Ice Cube to Star in Sports Drama 'Flint Strong'. February 5, 2020. Variety. February 10, 2020. February 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200206131812/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/ice-cube-flint-strong-movie-1203451079/. live.
- Web site: Judy Greer Boards Universal's Rachel Morrison Boxing Drama 'Flint Strong' . 14 May 2020 . 2020-05-14 . 2020-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200520113857/https://deadline.com/2020/05/judy-greer-flint-strong-universal-movie-cast-1202935284/ . live .
- Web site: Masters. Kim. Kit. Borys. 2021-10-29. Ice Cube Exits Sony Comedy 'Oh Hell No' After Declining COVID-19 Vaccine. live. 2021-11-26. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US. 2021-11-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20211125224742/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ice-cube-exits-sony-comedy-oh-hell-no-after-declining-covid-19-vaccine-1235038369/.
- Web site: eOne suspends production on Nurses due to coronavirus. Pinto. Jordan. Playback. March 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128112118/https://playbackonline.ca/2020/03/16/eone-suspends-production-on-nurses-due-to-coronavirus/. live. November 28, 2021. January 23, 2024.
- Web site: Justin. Kroll. Universal Halts Production on Live-Action Films Including 'Jurassic World: Dominion' Due to Coronavirus. March 13, 2020. Variety. March 16, 2020. March 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200314224338/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/jurassic-world-dominion-shuts-down-coronavirus-universal-1203531982/. live.
- Web site: I started this morning scouting an amazing set.... https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B9sL5zbhFsz . 2021-12-26 . registration. Instagram. Rachel. Morrison. March 13, 2020. March 28, 2020.
- Web site: Loretta. Hunt. Claressa Shields: 'I can drive through Flint now and not get flashbacks'. June 10, 2021. The Guardian. June 27, 2021. June 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210627221352/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/10/claressa-shields-boxing-mma-olympics-flint. live.
- Web site: Kit . Borys . Brian Tyree Henry Boards Flint Strong As Boxing Drama Finds New Studio Home, Restarts Shooting (Exclusive) . . 25 May 2022 . May 25, 2022 . 25 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220525190655/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/brian-tyree-henry-flint-strong-1235154074/ . live .
- Web site: Grobar . Matt . 2022-07-06 . Rachel Morrison's MGM Drama 'Flint Strong' Adds De'Adre Aziza; Arden Myrin To Star In Indie 'Step Aside' . 2022-07-06 . Deadline . en-US . 2022-07-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706231228/https://deadline.com/2022/07/flint-strong-adds-deadre-aziza-arden-myrin-to-star-in-step-aside-1235059109/ . live .
- News: Nolan . Daniel . 2022-07-22 . FirstOntario Centre in the ring for boxing movie Flint Strong . 2024-08-08 . The Hamilton Spectator . en . 1189-9417.
- Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 22 July 2024 . TIFF Galas & Special Presentations Lineup Includes World Premieres From Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Gia Coppola; Starry Pics With Jennifer Lopez, Lily James, Dave Bautista; Int'l Premieres 'Conclave' & 'Piece By Piece', More . 19 August 2024 . Deadline . en-US.
- Web site: The Fire Inside. June 19, 2023. Fandango Media. June 19, 2023. June 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230620025617/https://www.fandango.com/the-fire-inside-2024-232240/movie-overview. live.
- Web site: The Fire Inside First Look: Boxer Claressa Shields' Inspiring Story Comes to Life (Exclusive) . People . Tommy . McArdle . July 25, 2024 . August 19, 2024.