Laura Harrier is among the new additions to Hulu’s upcoming limited series Iron Mike, detailing the life and career of famed boxer Mike Tyson.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harrier will play actress Robin Givens, who became Tyson’s first wife and later divorced him after allegations of physical abuse. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Givens will be portrayed as “beautiful and outspoken.”
Tyson isn’t an executive producer on this biographical series and has called it “a prime example of how Hulu’s corporate greed led to this tone-deaf cultural misappropriation of my life story.”
Givens has not spoken about this project yet, but she did react not too long ago to her potential image being used in the miniseries Tyson is executive producing, starring Jamie Foxx as Tyson.
“I felt this drop in the pit of my stomach and was like, ‘Oh no, here we go again,” she told People Magazine in 2020. “I felt like the world was crumbling again.”
Along with continuing her acting career, Givens speaks out against abuse with organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline. She has also spoken out against comments Tyson made against her that she alleges as slanderous. With the help of Manhattan attorney Arthur Aidala, Givens has also issued a cease-and-desist to Tyson to prevent her likeness from being used in the film.
Along with Harrier, new Iron Mike cast members include Harvey Keitel, who will portray Tyson’s first trainer and adoptive father Cus D’Amato. Grace Zabriskie will play D’Amato’s wife and Tyson’s mother figure Camille, who is described as “being shocked when Robin confronts her about Mike paying her mortgage.” Olunike Adeliyi will play Tyson’s “hardened” mother Lorna Mae, and TJ Atoms will play young thief and Tyson’s friend Barkim, who makes Tyson realize his talent.
Trevante Rhodes will star as Tyson, with Russell Hornsby playing famed promoter Don King.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Calls are confidential and toll-free with over 170 languages available.
