Hugh Jackman Signs On For Real Steel

Aussie actor Hugh Jackman needs to be more careful in choosing his projects. For every The Prestige, there’s a Deception…and who remembers Swordfish? In which category his latest green-lit picture – Real Steel - lies, remains to be seen.

It seems Dreamworks honcho Steven Spielberg loves robots at the moment (we know he loves sci-fi). And his studio is set again to use the genre for a new spectacular described by Variety as “Rocky-esque”.

Based upon a Richard Matheson short story, with a screenplay by Dan Gilroy, Jackman plays a “Robot Boxing promoter” who discovers a robot and his son. So far, so intriguing. Dreamworks describe the film as a “rousing sports movie” (set in space).

It’s been a super-busy time for Steven Spielberg. As studio head he’s had to refinance Dreamworks on top of directing Tintin. It seems when in doubt, choose robots to bolster the coffers.

Jackman needs a hit after the disastrous box office of Australia and the less than brilliant X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Could this teaming up with one of America’s greatest directors reap rewards? Watch this space. Like his fellow Deception co-star Ewan McGregor, Jackman is a brilliant actor often appearing in clunkers. Reel Steel begins shooting in June 2010.

Tags: dreamworks, hugh jackman, Real Steel, richard matheson, Sc-fi, steven spielberg