MIPTV 2021: PROTAGONIST PICTURES LAUNCHES BOXING DOCU-SERIES "THE KINGS"

Outsanting producers James Gay-Rees ("Amy" and "Senna"), Paul Martin, ("Maradona") and Fiona Neilson ("Supersonic"), team up in "The Kings", an epic four-part docu-series following the fierce rivalry between four of the greatest boxers of all time. Protagonist Pictures will be repping international sales, launching the title at MIPTV with exclusive footage for buyers.

Following the retirement of Muhammad Ali in 1981, the world of boxing was ready for a new king. In his wake, came four young fighters, whose names would forever be intertwined, and who are now considered amongst the greatest boxers of all time: The Four Kings – ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, Roberto ‘Hands of Stone’ Durán, Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns and ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler. Each of these legends beat insurmountable odds, overcame terrible hardship, and their thrilling encounters would go down as among the greatest in boxing history. 

Says Dave Bishop, CEO Protagonist Pictures, “Set against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent and fascinating periods of modern US history, ‘The Kings’ is a must watch docu-series for both serious boxing fans and those completely unfamiliar with the sport. We can’t wait to discuss and share exclusive footage from this incredible show with buyers from around the world.”

“'The Kings' is the story not only of these four phenomenal fighters, but also an exploration of boxing itself – in all its dizzying highs and controversial lows,” says the director Mat Whitecross.“The Four Kings’ lives are in many ways emblematic of that era. I hope we’ve created a show that honours the legacy of these incredible men.”

The series premieres on Sunday, June 6 exclusively on Showtime with all episodes being made available across the network’s on-demand platforms at premiere. “The Kings” is produced for Showtime Sports Documentary Films by Box To Box Film in association with Ingenious Media.