Shawn Levy ‘privileged’ to direct Real Steel

(Cover) - EN Movies - Shawn Levy felt “privileged” to be directing Real Steel.

The Canadian-American director is best known for helming a string of comedy hits including Cheaper by the Dozen, Night at the Museum and Date Night.

The filmmaker is currently promoting Real Steel, which stars Hugh Jackman as struggling boxing promoter Charlie Kenton. The science fiction movie is set in the year 2020, where robots have replaced humans in the boxing ring.

Shawn was thrilled when executive producer Steven Spielberg chose him to helm the blockbuster.

“I’d been waiting for an opportunity to knock and it came in the form of this phonecall from Dreamworks and Steven [Spielberg]. I feel privileged that the success that I’ve had with the comedies led to this opportunity. It was a radically different experience directing a non-comedy, but very gratifying,” he told Cover Media.

Hugh had absolute trust in his director. The Australian actor says Shawn was the perfect person for the role.

“I always remember our first conversation. He said, ‘Hugh, if you look at all the movies I’ve done nothing tells you that I should be making this movie, but here is my vision for this movie,’ and I was so blown away by it, that I knew 100% that Shawn knew how to make this movie. And he took it from what was already there to another universe, yet alone another level,” he gushed.

“From that moment, I felt complete trust in his hands and he is one of the greatest directors I’ve worked with on all fronts.

“I say that as an actor, I’m sure as producers you would say that and Steven Spielberg would say that.”

Real Steel will be released in theatres on October 14.

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