Edge Hill professor’s book hits the big screen at BFI London Film Festival

The boxing biopic film Giant, inspired by the writing of Edge Hill University professor Geoff Beattie, has premiered at the BFI London Film Festival.

Prof Beattie, whose books On the Ropes and The Shadows of Boxing helped shape the film's narrative, was invited to watch the story of boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed as it hit the big screen for the first time.

The cast features former James Bond and Mamma Mia star Pierce Brosnan as the legendary Irish trainer Brendan Ingle, alongside the talented Amir El-Masry, named 2020 BAFTA Breakthrough Brit, in the role of Prince Naseem Hamed.

Geoff is credited as executive producer on Giant, a role he shares with Nick Manzi and the legendary Rocky star Sylvester Stallone.

Psychology expert Geoff, himself a keen boxer, rubbed shoulders with director Rowan Athale and Amir El-Masry at the premiere in Leicester Square, London, where the film was showcased at Vue Cinema as part of the BFI London Film Festival.

He said: “It was inspiring and humbling to see the film.

"It’s an excellent movie, exciting and emotional, and it brilliantly captures that period in Sheffield.

"Pierce Brosnan was excellent as Brendan Ingle, the manager, and Amir El-Masry is very convincing as a world champion boxer, which is not the case in all boxing movies! 

“Naz was an extraordinary fighter, with the confidence to go with it, a certain invincibility. And Amir portrayed that on the screen really well.”

Geoff’s books, written in the 1990s when Prince Naseem was at his peak, focus on Brendan Ingle’s famous gym in Wincobank, Sheffield where Professor Beattie also trained.

The Ingle Gym launched the careers of a string of famed boxers including Prince Naseem and fellow world champions Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter and Kell Brook.

 Geoff said: "It was very odd to hear your dialogue in a movie theatre, and very emotional to be reminded of what Brendan Ingle did for those kids in Wincobank in Sheffield who had so little going for them.

“He taught them social and life skills, to survive inside and outside the ring. I got quite emotional watching that part of the film to be honest, and to be reminded of what had inspired me to write On the Ropes: Boxing as a Way of Life and The Shadows of Boxing in the first place.”

Professor Geoff Beattie had fully immersed himself in the boxing world when he was researching the books, directly connecting with both Prince Naseem Hamed and trainer Brendan Ingle. On the Ropes went on to be shortlisted for Sports Book of the Year in 1996.

The film project began several years ago when the Hollywood studio AGC first secured the rights to Professor Beattie’s books. Filming commenced in 2024, but not before the director and screenwriter Rowan Athale had sent Geoff the script to review.

"He'd taken many details from the books, and some of the dialogue, some of the conversations and so on and worked them into the script," Prof Beattie said.

"Going through the screenplay got me really excited about the film and to see some of the conversations from my book included in the film helped it come alive.”

The film is set for general release in the UK and US from 9 January 2026.