Work on a new film will get under way in Newcastle later this year that will bring to the big screen the remarkable story behind Muhammad Ali's famous visit to Tyneside.
A God Amongst Men, announced by Studio Pictures and writer-director James Newton, will bring to a wider spotlight the true tale of how Johnny Walker, a boxing fan from South Tyneside, set out to bring the heavyweight champion to the North East - and, against all odds, succeeded.
For Newton the project is one particularly close to his heart. On a visit to Newcastle, the Ashington-born director explained how he was actually there back in 1977 to see Ali on his visit and it's an image seared into his memory. While he was just a child at the time, he remembers the amazement of everyone to see him.
