HBO Developing Dramatic Boxing Series Based On Mike Tyson

HBO has ordered a pilot from Doug Ellin, the writer and producer of "Entourage," for a dramatic series based on the rise of a fictional Newark, N.J. boxer.  Ellin has enlisted Spike Lee and Mike Tyson to co-produce.

"Da Brick" is the title of the series about the up and coming fighter loosely-based on Tyson's own rise to fame as a boxer. 

The idea for the project stemmed from a conversation Tyson had with Ellin while the former heavyweight champion was doing a guest spot on "Entourage" in 2010.

"Why don't you do with my life what you did with Mark's [Wahlberg] life on 'Entourage?' Ellin said Tyson asked him while on the set.

Simple as that, a gritty new series was born.

The title "Da Brick" is a reference to Newark being know as "The Brickyard City" or "Brick City."

Ellin will act only as producer of the series with co-producer Jim Lefkowitz while "Entourage" ends it's eight year run on HBO.  The head writer will be John Ridley, Lee's co-writer in a film-in-development about the Los Angeles riots.

It is not known if Tyson will hone his "Hangover 2" acting chops and appear in a  role or guest spot on the series but, his wife, Lakiha Tyson will co-executive produce with Azim Spicer.

Lee's people have been scouring local New York City area boxing gyms for locations and actors.  The casting directors are looking for actors who "have chops" and fight experience.

By basing a series on the dwindling fight game, does HBO have a Pacquiao or a patsie on it's hands?

Wahlberg produced "The Fighter," last year's Academy Award nominated and winning film about boxer 'Irish' Mickey Ward and his brother Dicky, which successfully brought the world of boxing to the masses.

On the other hand, FX's "Lights Out," a fine series about a fighter coming out of retirement, was cancelled after a single critically-acclaimed season. 

Even if Tyson doesn't appear in the series, it will probably not be too difficult to separate the fiction from the facts regarding the one-man demolition crew.  There is too much of his life that was public domain.

Both inside and outside of the ring, Tyson's recollections alone bring a solid foundation of incidents for the writers to incorporate into the scripts.  The out-of-control fighter has endured both the glory, the scandals and the shame behind the sport.

I wonder if there will be pigeons and facial tattoos?

Mike Tyson Not First Athlete Involved In Tattoo Copyright Case

All of the drama being played out the past few weeks regarding a copyright infringement case against  the replicated Mike Tyson tribal tattoo the new film "The Hangover 2" by the tattoo artist has a couple of precedents involving sports stars and their tattoos to base the case on.

In 2005, Rasheed Wallace and Nike were sued by tattoo artist Matthew Reed for featuring Reed's ink work in a commercial.  The artist claimed the Egyptian-style tattoo on the basketball star's right shoulder was his artwork and sued the shoe company for copyright infringement.

"If you are going to make money from it [a tattoo], you should get the artist's permission," Reed claimed.

The case was later settled.

London-based tattoo artist Louis Malloy, and former friend of David Beckham, sued the soccer star for exploiting his needle work in an advertising campaign.  The artist, who inked nine of Beckham's tats, wanted a percentage the ad campaign which featured Beckham's body and his tattoos prominently.  Malloy claimed the artwork was his creation and said copyright royalties were due his way.

The Daily Mirror in London even ran a tabloid headline which quoted Malloy, "I own Beck's Tattoo...and I'll Sue." He's still suing.

Tyson isn't being held responsible by Victor Whitmill--the former Las Vegas tattoo artist who did the tribal markings on the former-boxer's face.  Whitmill has gone before a judge in St. Louis to block Warner Brothers Entertainment from releasing HO2.  It doesn't look like Whitmill's frivolous suit has much merit and he should be thankful for the free publicity he is receiving get back to labeling women with tramp stamps.

The whole episode raises a lot of copyright questions like what if somebody gets a copy of a hanging Andy Warhol painting or the Rolling Stones' iconic "lips and tongue" logo (must be a million of those out there) tattooed on their body, is it stealing or copyright infringement?  Who does own the body art?

In layman's terms, the U.S. Copyright Law: Title 17 says unless there is a written contract otherwise, the person who paid for the tattoo is the owner of said tattoo.

So expect HO2 to be in theaters this weekend and Beckham to continue his quest to cover his body with more tats than Michael Scofield (his hero), the tattooed character from the cancelled TV series "Prison Break."

Mike Tyson To Join "The Hangover 2" Cast in Thailand

By Tony Mangia

IRON MIKE SAYS HE'S FINE WITH MEL GIBSON

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will fly to Thailand next month to film "The Hangover 2."  The sequel to last year's monster hit comedy has been making headlines for recently firing Oscar-winning movie star Mel Gibson.  Cast members of TH2 refused to work with the troubled Gibson because of his well-publicized drunken and bigoted outbursts and a custody and cash battle with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Tyson, a convicted rapist and admitted wife-beater, did a deadpan portrayal of himself in the first movie and is being readily accepted by his cast mates.

Director Todd Phillips vowed to find a role for Tyson in the sequel.  "He's (Tyson) been texting me,"  said Phillips in the past, "We're going to find something for him."

In deference to his cast mates, Tyson said he 'd "One hundred  percent" work with Gibson.  "I'm not ever in my life point my finger at anyone," Tyson said, "I don't live in a glass house.  None of us do.  I work with anybody, as long as they're respectful," the ear-biting ex-fighter added.


While Tyson passed  the morals board at TH2,  Gibson  was released from his role as a tattoo artist.  Gibson was locked into the role until stars Zack Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper  and  Justin Bartha complained about Gibson's past incidents and alleged assault and threats to his ex. Phillips finally relented and fired the "Lethal Weapon" franchise.  Liam Neeson has reportedly replaced the ousted Gibson.

The Thailand backdrop with it's sex-slaves, AIDS epidemic and 12 year-old prostitutes should be a comedy goldmine for the remaining TH2 cast.

Tyson wants no part of the controversy.  "We all have that guy--a Mel Gibson--in us," he explained, "We just don't want people exposed to it.  Maybe he needs to get help.  I am not against him, but I'm not for him."

After he finishes filming in Thailand, Tyson will head perform the duties as the Chinese "Boxing Ambassador to the World" in December.  "I didn't even know what an ambassador was," confessed the Mao-tattooed Tyson, "When I think of ambassador, I think of living off the government and jet-setting with girlfriends."  Sounds like a good premise for "The Hangover 3."