Limited series ‘Iron Mike’ at Go to Hulu

Mike Tyson is not involved in any capacity with the team drama behind “I, Tonya” and has criticized the streamer for what he calls a “deaf cultural diversion” of his life story.

Hulu enters the ring.

Disney-backed streamer turns lens on polarizing boxer Mike Tyson with appropriately titled limited series Iron Mike.

From the team behind I, Tonya, the eight-part 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 in the show in any way, although sources claim that Hulu executives informed him and his team on the show a few months ago.

“Hulu’s announcement to make an unauthorized miniseries of my life, while unhappy, is not surprising,” Tyson said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “This announcement following the social disparities in our country is a prime example of how the greed of Hulu’s companies has led to this muted cultural diversion of my life story. Making this announcement during Black History Month only confirms Hulu’s concern for dollars rather than respect for black history rights. Hollywood needs to be more sensitive to the experiences of black people, especially after everything that happened in 2020. My Authorized Story is under 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, along 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 direct production and direction of the series. Other executive producers include Me TonyaMargot Robbie and her LuckyChap colleagues Tom Ackerley and Brett Hedblom. Darin Friedman of Entertainment 360 will also direct production alongside Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures and Scott Morgan.

While 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 sentence. Tyson staged a return to boxing after his release and lost in a rematch to Evander Holyfield in 1997 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, it was played in 2009 The hangover and teamed up with Spike Lee to present his one-man show on Broadway. The production aired on HBO in 2013. It released a New York Times best-selling autobiography and touched on several animated series, including Adult Swim’s Mysteries of Mike Tyson. He also produced the feature film Fields, a boxing doc who examined the lives and careers of Tyson, Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins.

Iron mike is part of a fast growing LuckyChap list that also includes Hulu’s comedy Kat Dennings Doll face, Netflix drama John Wells Maid and features Promising young woman, among others.

Iron mike comes as Hulu continues to turn its focus on pop culture. The streamer ordered last year Pam and Tommy, an eight-episode limited 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 in the show.)