No, Hollywood actor Rami Malek is not portraying Manny Pacquiao in a movie
It was late last year when rumors started circulating that a movie about Filipino boxing legend and senator Manny Pacquiao is being planned.
An international film studio is reportedly bankrolling the biopic that would show Manny's humble beginnings and astonishing rise to boxing stardom.
Immediately, the names of Hollywood stars Rami Malek and Leonardo DiCaprio started popping up as potential actors to portray Manny and his longtime trainer, Freddie Roach, respectively, in the film.
Manny himself confirmed the speculation in a TV interview last month.
“There is a proposal but hindi pa kami seriously na nag-usap ng finality about that topic,” he said.
“Iba-iba, tatlong movie 'yun pero nandyan 'yung ''reedom Fighters,' at itong movie na ito ilalagay sa Netflix.”
He also acknowledged the possibility of DiCaprio appearing in the movie.
Manny said he's oblivious about Malek's participation in the project as it was not mentioned to him during the initial talks.
NO GO FOR MALEK
Malek himself puts speculation to rest in a recent interview published by the news website, Rappler.
“I can absolutely deny that. That's fascinating. No, I will definitely not be playing Manny Pacquiao,” the 39-year-old actor told journalist, Ruben Nepales.
Malek agreed on the notion that it is perhaps best that a Filipino actor portray Manny onscreen rather than a foreigner.
“I think that would be the right choice,” he said in the interview.
“If we've learned anything, by certain stretches, an actor can do it. But for someone of Filipino origin, it would be nice to see that person being played by somebody from that country.”
Rami Malek, of course, is no stranger to playing legendary figures on the big screen.
His portrayal of Queen singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury in the 2018 movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, drew mostly rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
“Whatever special effects were used to show the band in front of this enormous crowd, the scene captures something crucial about Queen's connection to an audience as Mercury leads an elaborate call-and-response with his fans,” wrote Rolling Stone's resident film critic, Peter Travers.
“The rousing life that Malek brings to this extraordinary recreation deserves all the cheers it gets. Screw the film's flaws -- you don't want to miss his performance.”
LARGER THAN LIFE
Manny's life has been retold several times in TV shows and the movies.
The 2014 documentary, Manny, directed by Leon Gast and Ryan Moore, touched on the boxer's impoverished roots to his rise to fame as a champion boxer and foray into politics.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao: The Movie starring Jericho Rosales came out in 2006 followed by bio sports drama Kid Kulafu in 2015 featuring Buboy Villar, Alessandra De Rossi, and Cesar Montano.
The latter followed Manny's story as a kid and wide-eyed boxing newbie.
Take a look at the many fights of Pacman against international boxers in the gallery below:
Source: ANC interview, December 21, 2020
Meanwhile, take a look at these Hollywood celebrities who are proud of their Filipino roots: