Sheldon Candis directs the scripted adaptation of the acclaimed 2018 documentary, with Samira Wiley, Mykelti Williamson, and a deep ensemble rounding out the cast
Disney’s Andscape has released the trailer for They Fight, a new boxing drama starring Andre Holland and Wendell Pierce that will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Monday, June 8, before making its Hulu debut on July 17.
Written and directed by Sheldon Candis, the film is based on Andrew Renzi’s 2018 documentary of the same name and follows Walt Manigan, a reformed ex-con who returns to Southeast Washington, D.C., and finds himself pulled back into the world of youth boxing. Holland plays the real-life Manigan, a man searching for redemption who ends up mentoring a group of young fighters at a crumbling gym under the watchful eye of his old mentor Slim, played by Pierce. As Walt tries to patch things up with Ketta, the mother of his young son played by Samira Wiley, the gym’s future builds toward a high-stakes competition between best friends Quincey and Peanut as they chase a spot on the U.S. Junior Olympic Team.
“They Fight is my love letter to one of my all-time favorite directors John G. Avildsen,” said Candis, referencing the Oscar-winning director of Rocky and the original Karate Kid trilogy. “It’s a Karate Kid-inspired narrative punched in the face with a John Hughes coming-of-age story about Southeast D.C. kids fighting to dream within amateur youth boxing. Andre Holland plays the real-life character of Walt Manigan within this documentary adaptation of a man searching to reclaim his soul.”
The ensemble cast also includes Anthony B. Jenkins, Toussaint Francois Battiste, Mykelti Williamson, Tory J. Malone, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, Amanda Warren, and Andre Royo. Candis co-wrote the script with Renzi, who also produces alongside Jason Michael Berman and Ben Renzo.
They Fight marks Candis’ second feature, arriving 13 years after his Sundance debut Luv. The film was shot in Maryland with support from the Maryland Film Commission and the state’s film tax credit, and is produced by A/Vantage Pictures with Andscape, Argent Pictures, North of Now, Mandalay Pictures, and Harper Road.