“As much as it’s a boxing story, I’ve always thought of it as a rock and roll story”: Rowan Athale on Giant at Red Sea International Film Festival 2025

We were fortunate to hear Rowan Athale’s insights on his film Giant, which recounts the true rags-to-riches story of legendary British-Yemeni boxing champion “Prince” Naseem Hamed (Amir El-Masry) and his tender relationship with trainer Brendan Ingle (Pierce Brosnan), portraying Naseem’s rise against racism and Islamophobia in 80s and 90s Britain.

In this interview, the British-Indian director and screenwriter shared his unique vision for this biopic with The Upcoming. The conversation revealed Athale’s distinctive perspective; as he states, “as much as it’s a boxing story, I’ve always thought of it as a rock and roll story,” shaping the feature to go beyond a mere boxing narrative. He also described the crucial role of Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and the inspired casting choice of Brosnan, but above all, his intention to represent the prejudices faced by Muslims. Athale further emphasised the complex, intertwined journeys of the two protagonists as central elements within the movie.

Laura Della Corte

Giant is released in select cinemas on 9^th January 2026.

Watch the trailer for Giant here: