*Rising star Jordan E. Cooper is no stranger to powerful storytelling, and his latest role in “Uppercut” is no exception.
The film, starring Ving Rhames and Luise Grossmann, delivers a knockout story about perseverance, mentorship, and breaking barriers in the world of professional boxing. Directed by Torsten Ruether, here’s the official synopsis:
Golden Globe® winner Ving Rhames and Luise Grossmann star in an electrifying film about Toni, a determined female boxer, trying to break down barriers as she redefines what it means to be a woman in today’s world. When Elliott (Rhames), a tough ex-boxing champion, accepts the challenge to train Toni (Grossmann), the two mismatched characters form an unlikely alliance. Their sparring and Elliott’s keen insights show the resilient young fighter that real strength comes from the challenges you overcome when life throws its biggest punches your way.
Watch the trailer below.
“I play Payne Harris, who is very much an underdog and very much a person who a lot of people threw away in his personal life,” said Cooper in our exclusive conversation. “I think he’s one of those characters who finds value in himself through the sport, where it’s like, if I can do this, then maybe I’ll be loved. We get a chance to see what happens whenever he places all his value in the sport, which is an interesting outcome.”
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Cooper “trained for about six months” to prepare for the movie, “even before getting into the boxing techniques of it all, it was really building up that stamina, and being able to jump into it was a stretch for me,” he admits, adding, “which is also what drew me to the film because it was different from anything that I had done.”
“I got a chance to see the German version of it that Torsten did a few years back. I just loved the way he captured life. I thought it was beautiful work. So I jumped at the opportunity to be able to use this as a chance to stretch myself as a performer and as an actor and see what I can do physically and how far I can go.”
Elsewhere in this exclusive interview, Cooper opens up about his experience working alongside the legendary Rhames and the film’s powerful message on female athletes in sports. Watch our full discussion via the clip below.
“Uppercut” arrives in theaters, On Digital and On Demand on February 28.
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