Joe Louis movie to be made by Spike Lee

[Yogi]

Yeah I know, but what other African American actor can play Joe Louis?

Maybe they could get a newbee, but how good is the acting going to be, and can you sell that person to the studio(s) to back the movie?


To the boxing fan we are going to always look at Joe and look at who is playing him, but the common person just wanting to see a good film isn't going to notice.

I would rather have a good actor playing Joe than someone that looks exactly like him but can't act.

It appears you have a different opinion, but I would much rather see an unknown or lesser known talent play Louis on film, as those bigger named actors have a tendency to, at times, add their own personal touch & ideas to their work and deviate away from the character they're supposed to be playing.

[Yogi]

Also i was thinking they could also do a movie surrounding the happening of Jack Johnson and Jim Jefferis and how America was looking for "The great white hope" i think that would make a great movie too. I bet lee will somhow mention this in the joe louis movie.

It's been done with that title (in your quote), with James Earl Jones playing Jack Johnson.

[butterfly1964]

It's been done with that title (in your quote), with James Earl Jones playing Jack Johnson.

But I don't think they used the name Jack Johnson in the movie.

[Yogi]

But I don't think they used the name Jack Johnson in the movie.

Now that you mention it, I seem to recall they did that with the names of some of the other fighters, as well, or at least they did so with Willard.

But it's been at least 10 to 15 years since I've seen the movie, though.