On January 9, 2026, the world of boxing and cinema collided as the highly anticipated biopic Giant hit theaters worldwide, chronicling the remarkable life and career of British boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed. With Pierce Brosnan stepping into the role of Hamed's long-time trainer Brendan Ingle and Amir El-Masry embodying the charismatic fighter himself, the film has already sparked conversation for its raw portrayal of ambition, mentorship, and regret.
From the moment the lights dimmed at the UK premiere, it was clear Giant was not just another sports movie. According to BBC Sport, the film imagines a reconciliation between Hamed and Ingle—a moment that never actually occurred in real life, but one that Hamed, now 51, wishes had. "I always wanted that to happen," Hamed told BBC Sport. "But to see it unfold in front of me like it could have happened... I actually said to the director and the producer: 'I only wish that that last scene was really true, because I would have wanted that.'"
The story traces Hamed's journey from a seven-year-old prodigy in Sheffield, the son of Yemeni immigrants, to a world featherweight champion by the age of 21 under Ingle's innovative guidance. The relationship between the two, though initially close, became increasingly fraught as Hamed's stardom and earnings soared. Disputes over Ingle's 25% cut of Hamed's fight purses and the publication of a controversial book in 1998, The Paddy and The Prince, ultimately led to a bitter split after Hamed's victory over Wayne McCullough. Despite Hamed's attempts to reconnect in later years, Ingle, who died in 2018 at age 77, never agreed to meet, leaving Hamed with a lingering sense of regret.
For Brosnan, taking on the role of Ingle was a transformative experience—literally and figuratively. The 72-year-old actor, best known for his stint as James Bond, underwent hours of makeup and prosthetics each day to capture the late trainer's distinctive look. As he told talkSPORT, "It was like quiet meditation every morning [getting ready]. I had a great team behind me who did remarkable work, it took hours at a time. But when I said yes to the script I was sure that I could make some physical transformation into Brendan Ingle. This was an intense film to make, time was so short but the story was fantastic."
Though Brosnan performed boxing scenes with El-Masry, he admitted he did not undergo formal boxing training for the role. "For this I didn't do any training. I've done it playing Bond and done action movies. I have boxed in a theatrical sense, if I were to get into a real fight, I'd be floored into the minutes. These great coaches and boxers were with us, and I knew some of the moves, and the scenes are fantastic," Brosnan shared with talkSPORT.
The film, produced by Balboa Productions with Sylvester Stallone as executive producer, carries echoes of the iconic Rocky series, but its heart lies in the nuanced exploration of identity, mentorship, and the immigrant experience. As Brosnan told Yahoo UK, "There's so much pain in the world, there's so much kind of shame in the world, there's so much confusion. And immigration is definitely a big part of our lives now. The world is transforming, and it will continue to transform, so we really have to learn how to enjoy each other's life and culture and be gracious to each other. And these two men, Brendan Ingle... and Prince Naseem... they came together through the great dignity and joy of boxing."
El-Masry, who lost eight kilos for the role and meticulously studied Hamed's flamboyant mannerisms, relished the opportunity to portray both the brilliance and flaws of his subject. "I think what makes for an interesting film is to show that light and shade, and Rowan [Athale] wrote a very beautiful script, you know, that showed as much rawness and tenderness as it did its ferociousness. And I think that makes for an exciting film to watch," El-Masry told Yahoo UK. He purposefully waited until filming was complete to meet Hamed, explaining, "Initially I wanted to, but I think looking back it was great that I had met him after we finished. I think sometimes when you really love someone so much, you're going to champion them, regardless, but it will be harder to show all their flaws, their warts and all."
Their eventual meeting was profoundly moving. As El-Masry recounted, "He was watching the film right next to me, and I kept looking over, being like, does he [like this]? And then at the end of the film, he called his two sons over, and he brought the WBC belt, and he put it over me. He's like, 'Now you know what a real champion feels like.' He was super, super supportive, and he loves the film. He's seen it three times, and he's here with us today as well, so yeah, [I'm] super proud that we made him proud. And I wish that Brendan were still with us."
Though Hamed had no involvement in the film's production, he has publicly supported the project and attended the premiere, despite finding certain scenes—especially those depicting his falling out with Ingle—difficult to watch. "Look I've backed the movie because I think the fans will enjoy it and the director is a really nice guy. So most of the scenes that I'm watching was hard for me to watch. It's a good watch and I'm not going to say everything wasn't true. But fans will find it very interesting, and the closing scene is fantastic. Although it is dramatized," Hamed admitted to talkSPORT.
Beyond the drama, Giant offers a window into the unique environment of the Ingle gym in Sheffield—a place described by Hamed as a "melting pot" where fighters from all backgrounds and races trained together, free from the racism Hamed faced elsewhere. "Brendan would say his own words, 'liquorice allsorts.' All different backgrounds, all different races, it was just a melting pot. He always would say that the barriers are always down, they're not up. We was all one big happy family in that gym and that was because of him. In that gym, I can honestly say to you, there was never ever a sense or a feeling of racism," Hamed reflected to BBC Sport.
Brosnan echoed the sentiment, noting Ingle's profound impact on his community: "[Ingle] gave of his life and his energy and passion to the young men in his community there in Sheffield." The film also pays tribute to Ingle's broader legacy, as he went on to mentor other world-class boxers like Kell Brook and Johnny Nelson after his split with Hamed.
At its core, Giant is more than a tale of sporting triumphs and defeats. As Brosnan put it, "It's a father, son, how to be a man, a love story, promises made, promises broken. And all that's not given is lost, really." With its blend of authenticity, heartache, and hope, the film invites audiences to consider not just what was, but what might have been—both inside and outside the ring.
