Hugh Jackman to Star in "Real Steel"

By our guest blogger, Rob Stammitti

"Real Steel" is set to be Dreamwork's first film produced with the $850 million they received in financing after splitting from Paramount. Helmed by "Night at the Museum" director Shawn Levy, the film is set in the near future and sounds like a mix between sci-fi, action and, oddly enough, a sports film. Everyone's favorite adamantium-laced mutant Hugh Jackman has signed on to star.

The plot from ReelzChannel:

"Jackman will play an ex-fighter in a near-future world where human boxers have been replaced by robots. Jackman's character discovers a junked robot that has a knack for winning and begins promoting the electronic fighter on the Robot Boxing circuit. Along the way, he gets acquainted with the 11-year-old son that he never knew he had."

I don't know about you, but this sounds completely baffling. It's like a mix between "Rocky," "The Wrestler" and "I, Robot," and I never expected to find a film that could be described as such. This is a pretty new direction for Levy, who has been working exclusively in family comedies for the past decade, with next year's "Date Night" being the only change in sight before this announcement.

Jackman tends to suit just about any role. The real question is whether the film deserves his abilities, as his films have ranged from brilliant ("The Prestige," "The Fountain") to awful ("X3," "X-Men Origins") for the past few years. With no word beyond the plot, it's pretty much impossible to say right now what we can look forward to.

The film is being fast-tracked, with the release probably aimed for late next year or early 2011.