Miles Teller’s Pazmanian Devil has booked his spot under the lights, now that Open Road Films has granted an awards-friendly release date to upcoming boxing drama Bleed For This.
Set to open via limited release against Marvel’s Doctor Strange on November 4, before expanding nationwide on November 23, the studio’s character drama charts the tragic journey of Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza, a local Rhode Island boxer whose meteoric rise saw him punch his way to the very top, winning two world title fights before his glittering career ground to a halt following a near-fatal car accident.
Forced to deal with a severed spinal chord and a career lying in tatters, it is Aaron Eckhart’s hearty trainer Kevin Rooney that lends The Pazmanian Devil with another shot at the limelight, helping Pazienza back on his feet and, remarkably, to reclaim his title belt on a year after the accident.
Based on a true story, it is writer-director Ben Younger that will be hoping to steer Bleed for This to Oscar glory. Indeed, Open Road’s tiered release worked a treat for Spotlight last year, but can the studio capture lightning in a bottle two years on the trot?
Bleed for This will now step out of production and into the ring in time for November 4. Then, it’ll be available via limited release, before expanding to theatres on November 23. Rounding out the casting docket are Katey Sagal, Ted Levine, Ciaran Hinds, Jordan Gleber and Amanda Clayton.
