''The Challenger'' is a 2015 American
sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...
written and directed by
Kent Moran and executive produced by
Michael Clarke Duncan
Michael Clarke Duncan (December 10, 1957September 3, 2012) was an American actor. He was best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in '' The Green Mile'' (1999), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor a ...
, who also co-stars in his last feature film released after his death.
Additionally, ''The Challenger'' features
Kent Moran,
S. Epatha Merkerson and
Justin Hartley
Justin Scott Hartley (born January 29, 1977) is an American actor. He has played Fox Crane on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Passions'' (2002–2006), Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on The CW television series ''Smallville'' (2006–2011), and Adam New ...
.
Filming began in January 2012 in
The Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
, New York, and the film was released domestically on September 11, 2015.
Plot
With the help of legendary boxing trainer Duane Taylor (Duncan), struggling Bronx auto mechanic Jaden Miller (Moran) turns to boxing to save him and his mother (Merkerson) from living on the streets.
Cast
*
Kent Moran as Jaden
*
Michael Clarke Duncan
Michael Clarke Duncan (December 10, 1957September 3, 2012) was an American actor. He was best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in '' The Green Mile'' (1999), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor a ...
as Duane
*
S. Epatha Merkerson as Jada
*
Justin Hartley
Justin Scott Hartley (born January 29, 1977) is an American actor. He has played Fox Crane on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Passions'' (2002–2006), Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on The CW television series ''Smallville'' (2006–2011), and Adam New ...
as James
* Frank Watson as Terrence
* Michael Rivera as Sanchez
*
Rob Morgan as Frederick
* Stan Carp as Joe
* Robert Pike Daniel as Vincent
*
Lindsay Hartley
Lindsay Hartley (born Lindsay Nicole Korman; April 17, 1978) is an American actress. She first came to attention with three long-running soap opera roles: Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald on ''Passions'', Cara Castillo on ''All My Children'', and Aria ...
as Stephanie
* Natalie Carter as Aunt Regina
* Tristan Laurence Perez as Maxwell
* Bobby Roman as Rodriguez
* Vladimir Versailles as Alvin
* Ron Denson as Dereck Taylor
* Raushanah Simmons as Laurie
* Victor Pagan as Hector
* Ernie Saballa as Frankie
* Gurdeep Singh as Cashier
* Dion Mucciacito as Dr. Vargas
* Kelvin Hale as Commentator #1
* Jason Horowitz as Commentator #2
* Peter D. Michael as Commentator #3
Production
The film was Kent Moran's directorial debut. He had previously starred in and produced ''
Listen to Your Heart''.
Filming began on January 17, 2012, in The Bronx, where the film takes place and wrapped on July 10, 2012.
Release
The film was released domestically on September 11, 2015.
Festival circuit
;Awards:
*Gasparilla International Film Festival Audience Award Winner 2015
*Nashville Film Festival Audience Award Winner, 2nd Place 2015
*Nashville Film Festival Audience Award Winder, New Directors Competition 2015
*Palm Beach International Film Festival, Audience Award 2015
;Placement
Portland Film Festival, Offshoot Film Festival, Great Cleveland Urban Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Gasparilla Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Palm Beach International Film Festival, Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Arizona International Film Festival, Dances with Films, Boston International Film Festival, Stony Brook Film Festival (Long Island)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Challenger, The (2015 film)
2010s sports drama films
American sports drama films
2015 films
American boxing films
Films scored by Pinar Toprak
Films set in the Bronx
Films set in the 2010s
2015 drama films
2010s English-language films
2010s American films