Halle Berry is set to channel Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey in her next pic. Deadline reports that the Oscar-winning actress will make her directorial debut with “Bruised,” a mixed martial arts drama that she’ll also star in.
Slated to go into production next March, “Bruised” follows Jackie (Berry), a disgraced MMA Fighter who is reunited with her six-year-old son that she walked out on years before. “Jackie has to conquer her own demons, face one of the fiercest rising stars of the MMA world, and ultimately fight to become the mother this kid deserves,” the source summarizes.
Michelle Rosenfarb penned the script.
Blake Lively was originally attached to topline “Bruised” with Nick Cassavetes (“The Notebook”) set to direct.
“Kings,” “Kidnap,” and “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” are among Berry’s recent acting credits. She took home an Academy Award in 2002 for her role in “Monster’s Ball.” She made history as the first black woman to be honored with Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Berry is signed on to star in Sony Pictures’ remake of “Jagged Edge,” a thriller that sees her playing a lawyer.
The “X-Men” actress’ foray into directing doesn’t come as a surprise. “I want to start directing, I want to star producing more, I want to start being a part of making more opportunities for people of color,” she said last year. “We have to start telling stories that include us and if stories don’t include us, we have to start asking, ‘Why can’t that be a person of color? Why can’t that white male character be a black woman? Why can’t it?’ We have to start pushing the envelope and asking these questions,” she urged.
