HBO Pictures will produce the biographical drama "Don
King," according to Scott Hettrick of the HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER. Actor Ving Rhames, who starred in "Pulp Fiction"
and "Mission: Impossible," will play the boxing promoter.
The movie is based on Jack Newfield's "Only in America: The
Life and Crimes of Don King." A director has not been
named. The film is slated for a fall release. Hettrick
notes that HBO and King "had a bitter falling out" after HBO
had carried "many" of Mike Tyson's fights with King as a
promoter. King and Tyson have since signed with Showtime.
HBO Pictures Exec VP Richard Waltzer said that the "movie
will not skirt the HBO situation with King." But he said
that HBO Pictures has "chosen not to involve Time Warner
Sports in the production" and that there will "be no mention
of Showtime" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/14).
COULDA BEEN A CONTENDA: HBO Sports will debut "Sports
on the Silver Screen" this Sunday at 8:00pm ET. The
documentary presents how sports has been depicted in motion
pictures over the past century. The special shows clips
from 150 sports-oriented films, including "Raging Bull,"
"Bull Durham," and "Rocky." The film is produced in
association with the American Film Institute (HBO).
