From heartthrob to heavyweight! Liam Hemsworth lands a major new role portraying a legendary boxer in upcoming Hollywood film
He’s been isolating at his home on Phillip Island, Victoria, with girlfriend Gabriella Brooks.
But it appears Liam Hemsworth, 30, might soon be heading to South Africa after landing a major new heavyweight role.
Champion boxer Gerrie Coetzee confirmed in an interview with South African radio station Jacaranda FM on Monday that Liam will play him in a biopic scheduled to start filming in August.
From heartthrob to heavyweight! Liam Hemsworth (pictured) has landed a major new role portraying South African boxing legend Gerrie Coetzee in a new biopic, the champion sportsman confirmed in a radio interview with Jacaranda FM on Monday
‘Yes that’s correct,’ the legendary sportsman answered when asked by host Rian Van Heerden if Liam was signed on to portray him.
‘They’re meant to be coming over in August to start shooting the movie, but it depends on the COVID, you know,’ he said.
He added: ‘If there’s still hotspots in South Africa and people can get sick, they might postpone it.’
Contender: Liam (left) will take on the role of Africa’s first boxer to fight for, and win, a world heavy weight championship in 1983 (pictured right is Gerry Coetzee)
Heading to South Africa? Liam has been isolating at his home on Phillip Island, near Melbourne but might soon be heading overseas after Gerry confirmed the movie was due to start filming in August but added: ‘It depends on the COVID, you know’
The Boksburg Bomber added that while he wasn’t sure who would take on the role of his wife Rina, he didn’t think it wasn’t going to be blonde beauty Charlize Theron.
He indicated that the Oscar-winning actress may be out of the film’s budget.
Gerrie was the first African boxer to fight for, and win, a world heavyweight championship in 1983.
Too Pricey? Gerry confirmed blonde beauty Charlize Theron (pictured) had been approached to play his wife Rina, but that she may be out of the film’s budget
Meanwhile, Liam teamed up with older brother Chis last week for a good cause.
They joined Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi to read Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach over a live Zoom chat for charity.
Taika aims to read the entire book with different celebrities over 10 episodes this month, raising money for Partners in Health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Chris, Liam and actor Nick Kroll read chapters one through four during the first episode of the series.
Surprise! On Monday, Chris (pictured) and Liam Hemsworth teamed up with filmmaker Taika Waititi to read Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach over a live Zoom chat for charity
Their fundraising video was uploaded to Roald Dahl HQ’s YouTube channel, alongside information about Partners in Health and how fans can donate.
According to the video’s description, the Roald Dahl Story Company and its partners will be matching every single donation made by viewers.
Many fans have praised the project, saying it’s a great way for families to spend time together in self-isolation.
‘I would watch Chris Hemsworth reading a phone book,’ one person joked. A woman who claimed to be a teacher added: ‘I will be sharing this with my class this week!’
Stars such as Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and Benedict Cumberbatch will read further chapters of James and the Giant Peach in future episodes.
Charity: According to the video’s description, the Roald Dahl Story Company and its partners will be matching every single donation made by viewers