Ellen Barkin to Join Robert De Niro in HANDS OF STONE Biopic

According to Variety, Ellen Barkin will star alongside Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez and Usher Raymond in the upcoming film biopic on boxing champ Roberto Duran. HANDS OF STONE is written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz.

Read the original report here.

Ramirez will take on the role of the boxing legend Roberto Duran while De Niro will portray his trainer Ray Arcel. Barkin will play Arcel's wife.

The film will depict the influence each man had on the other's life and will take place during the 'Golden Era' of the sport which included Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Hector Camacho, Vinny Pazienza.

HANDS OF STONE will be produced by Jay Weisleder and Jakubowicz of La Piedra Films. Commented Weisleder, "The story of Roberto Duran and Ray Arcel is not only a homage to the golden days of boxing; it is most importantly the story of a fatherless man who teaches every single one of us the true meaning of never giving up."

Barkin previously co-starred with De Niro in the films This Boy's Life and The Fan. She has appeared on Broadway in The Normal Heart and Short Talks on the Universe, as well as off-Broadway's Eden Court, Fool for Love, Extremities, Killings on the Last Line and Shout Across the River. She recently starred on TV in The New Normal.