Southpaw (2015)
- The original script for Southpaw was written over a decade before production finally began in 2015.
- During the filming of Southpaw, Jake Gyllenhaal improvised one of the most famous lines in the movie.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Antoine Fuqua's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
Southpaw is a 2015 American sports drama directed by Antoine Fuqua. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Billy Hope, the undefeated light heavyweight boxing champion whose charmed life β beautiful wife Maureen played by Rachel McAdams, adorable daughter, lavish lifestyle β collapses when a provocation at a charity event leads to a shooting that kills Maureen. Consumed by rage and grief, Billy spirals into addiction and violence, losing his title, his money, his home, and custody of his daughter.
To rebuild his life, he seeks out Tick Wills, a grizzled, no-nonsense trainer played by Forest Whitaker who runs a rundown gym for at-risk youth and demands that Billy learn discipline and defense rather than relying on his ability to absorb punishment. Jake Gyllenhaal's physical transformation was extraordinary β he gained 15 pounds of muscle and trained for months with real boxers, performing his own fight choreography with a physicality that made every punch feel genuine. Southpaw earned $91 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.
