Mena Massoud to play Prince Naseem in boxer's biopic

Writer: Heidi Hsia

Prince Naseem was one of Britain's youngest world champions at just 21

27 Jan - "Aladdin" star Mena Massoud has signed on to star in the upcoming sports drama, "Giant", which will tell the story of boxing champion Prince Naseem "Naz" Hamed.

According to the actor's Instagram post, he would be playing the role of the boxer, as he expressed, "I didn't choose the Prince life, the Prince life chose me. Dream come true to be playing the legendary Naseem Hamed."

Massoud will be joined by "House of the Dragon" star Paddy Considine, who will play the role of Naseem's Irish trainer, Brendan Ingle.

Mena Massoud is most known for his performance in "Aladdin"

"House of the Dragon" star Paddy Considine will be playing trainer Brendan Ingle

Naseem was found by Ingle in Sheffield, and held multiple featherweight world titles in his 10-year professional career, including the WBO, IBF and WBC titles. A practicing Muslim who often prayed before fights, the boxer, who is known by his moniker Prince, becomes a hero for millions of Muslim Brits, though facing Islamophobia at the same time.

The movie will be directed by Rowan Athale ("Wasteland"), who stated, "I have wanted to bring this movie to screen for many years. The story of fabled boxing trainer Brendan Ingle and his tempestuous relationship with protege "Prince" Naseem is both legendary, and truly cinematic. It's exciting, necessary, hilarious, and heartbreaking, and to be making this movie with the incomparable Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud, and with the support of the one and only Sylvester Stallone and his Balboa Productions team, is a dream come true."

Brendan Ingle with Prince Naseem Hamed