The concept sounds utterly ridiculous: a futuristic boxing movie pitting human-controlled robots against each other. But DreamWorks must already think they have a box office winner on its hands as the studio is already begun work on a sequel. Whether or not the audience will show up, the first full-length trailer at least looks to get looks kids and adults to the theater its first weekend of release.
Hugh Jackman stars as a father struggling to provide for his family. A former boxer, he now trains robots to win inside the ring (which he controls using a touchscreen pad – can you say iPad movie tie-in?). Joining him is his pestilent son (Dakota Goyo) who insists on helping his father train. Having pulled an “Iron Giant” out of the scrapheap, the two bond as they train a robot that needs more than a new motherboard to compete in the ring. Real Steel looks to be sprocket-fed corny, but it could be a nice diversion this fall. Rising star Anthony Mackie, Lost‘s Evangeline Lilly, Kevin Durand, Hope Davis and James Rebhorn round out the supporting cast.
Real Steel, from Night at the Museum‘s Shawn Levy, opens on October 7th. Check out the trailer below.
