Bringing the larger-than-life persona of former heavyweight champion George Foreman to the big screen is a tall order for anyone but director George Tillman Jr. was more than ready for the challenge. While Tillman was confident in leading man Khris Davis’s ability to become the boxing legend, it took some time for the film’s home, Sony Pictures, to get on board. Sony was afraid Davis wouldn’t match Foreman’s massive size. However, The Longest Ride director managed to get his actor the time needed to work on his body, and revealed how he convinced the studio to let the film’s star take time off to gain weight.
Hot off the success of Space Jam: A New Legacy, Davis was white hot when he came into audition for the George Foreman biopic. Tillman mentioned to ReelBlend that he connected with the rising star through online auditions. The two men didn’t meet until later in the COVID pandemic. The Soul Food filmmaker spilled about the moment he knew the Atlanta alum was the right fit to play the iconic boxing legend, saying:
