They Fight: How Hulu’s Powerful New Boxing Drama Brings Hope, Redemption, and Community to the Ring

The genre of sports dramas will always be alluring, mostly because the really good ones are rarely about simply watching people compete. Rather, they use the natural competition, and what’s at stake for the characters in said sports, to frame profoundly human tales of triumph, sacrifice, and evolution. Hulu’s upcoming boxing drama They Fight seems poised to do just that, with a killer cast (fronted by Andre Holland, Wendell Pierce and Samira Wiley) and initial word is looking good after its trailer drop.

But contrary to the tropes often seen in boxing films (the championship belts and professional career struggles), They Fight is about the power of mentorship and community. The film, based on actual events and adapted from the documentary film of the same name, is all about the way that boxing can be a lifeline to kids experiencing hardship.

With an emotional premise, a dream team cast, and a culturally relevant story to tell, They Fight is the sports drama we might all need. Read on for all of the details about Hulu’s newest original and all the reasons why it’s already being so highly anticipated.

What Is “They Fight” About?

The story of They Fight is fundamentally a story of second chances. Walt Manigan (Andre Holland) has done his time, and is determined to pull his life back together now that he is back in his neighborhood in Washington, D.C. However, as he makes his way through the community, he encounters many kids dealing with many of the same difficulties that once nearly sent him over the edge. He doesn’t intend to let them do so, though.Walt becomes involved with a local youth boxing program that gives him a way to counsel and inspire these local teens and help them to become winners. What they learn outside the boxing ring will prove more valuable than any victory within it. Though Walt is a boxer who leads his kids on the court, he also sees the fights the kids face inside and outside of the ring with their tough backgrounds-including poverty, violence, familial issues and their own personal doubts-as they all fight for better futures. They Fight is a mix of sports film and socially relevant movie. 

A Story Inspired by Real Life

I think it’s because of what the real story itself represents.

They Fight is a narrative adaptation of the 2018 documentary they Fought. The documentary looked at how teen boxers involved in a community boxing program were in many ways helped by their involvement in a regulated sports program to escape rough and often dangerous circumstances.

By taking this story and molding it into a feature film, those in the creation process are able to tell a much wider story. While documentaries can sometimes only reach niche audiences, there’s no telling how many people the narrative feature could touch through character based storytelling.

They Fight retains the core message that was found within the documentary: That mentors, a guiding voice and people that believe in you can go so far to redirect a child’s life.

It’s this touch with reality that allows you to feel every moment within the film.

André Holland Leads a Talented Cast

One of the main reasons that many people are looking forward to They Fight is the incredible cast.

Andr Holland as Walt Manigan

Andr Holland is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors today. Most known for his role as an individual seeking to make peace with his past in Moonlight, a complex doctor working to overcome the challenges of his profession in The Knick, and his sensitive performance as a Black writer in 1920s New York in Passing, Holland’s performances always emanate a distinct combination of sensitivity and fortitude. In They Fight, he plays Walt Manigan, a former inmate looking to give his life back by serving his community. The trailer indicates Holland imbues Walt with a sense of humility and authenticity that makes him sympathetic and hopeful. Walt is a role perfectly suited to Holland.

Wendell Pierce as Slim

Another strength of this cast is Wendell Pierce. We know him mostly from the memorable performance as Bunk Moreland in the outstanding TV show The Wire, Suits and Jack Ryan and admired for portraying complex and familiar characters so accurately. Here he will embody Slim, a character, judging by trailer, which will have a guiding and wise role and bring depth to the film.

Samira Wiley as Ketta

We see the praise she received for playing the much loved, tough prisonner Poussey Washington in Orange is the New Black as well as the loyal and determined Moira Strand in The Handmaid’s tale and she perfectly personifies what is needed for a story that is built around community-building and fighting for change as we see that in this clip she supports and backs up the young fighters, and we already know she will produce a compelling, emotional performance based on the trailer alone.

All three lead actors together should pull the film away from the average sports-drama.

Why Boxing Remains a Powerful Storytelling Tool

 Boxing is by far the preferred sport in cinema. Every boxing film, from Raging Bull and Rocky to Creed and Million Dollar Baby, seems to capture the imagination due to the fact that boxing in essence, depicts life and life itself. Every boxing match is a life’s challenge being represented. The fighter is battling against hardship; feeling the pain, failures and uncertainties as well as fear, requiring an immense amount of strength, focus, determination and psychological toughness. This, of course, is fantastic for storytelling. In They Fight, boxing is more than just a sport. The characters discover a form of self-discovery; the youngsters are not simply learning how to fight for matches, but learn how to take on responsibilities, gain self-confidence and self-control. Every round spent inside the boxing ring, symbolises a challenge being faced outside it.

The Importance of Mentorship

Mentoring is perhaps one of the key elements in the film. Many successful individuals cite a mentor as the person responsible for discovering their talents and helping them work through their problems. It is especially true for these teens, dealing with their negative life circumstances, a mentor is not just a positive influence but a necessity.

Walt Manigan is the classic example of the mentor. He has lived the life these teens are living, know the struggle they’re facing, and come from “the guts of the earth”. Because he understands where the teens are coming from, he is able to provide honest and valuable advice from a place of true empathy. The movie points out that mentoring isn’t about having every answer; it’s about being consistently available to listen and to allow those people to be inspired that they have value and capability. In a time and in the specific parts of the world that so many different communities and cities continue searching for solutions for these troubled teens, this message is extremely timely and impactful.

Community as a Source of Strength

Community is another significant element that is illustrated throughout the film They Fight. Traditionally movies focus on individual success; while individual success can be one aspect of achievement, people are generally not able to do it alone. Community support can serve to build individuals who are struggling. The gym in the film They Fight is not just a gym that the young boys train at but instead a place where the young boys come and make friends with each other, build self-confidence, and eventually find meaning in their lives. By working together, the film They Fight depicts that progress can be made when groups work together with coaches, parents, teachers, and the community can build the lives of their kids. “Unity” seems to be a much more social cause than what they portrayed in their film.

The Emotional Impact of Redemption Stories

Equally compelling are the redemption stories. It’s very inspiring to see someone overcoming their past sins and working towards some utopia. This story is also depicted most clearly in Walt. After doing time, he had two simple choices: to become bitter, and isolate himself, or to put in his all to save other people from repeating the same mistakes. His choice illustrates human capacity to reform. He is proof that change is possible for individuals, as it does not seem like the movie portrays redemption as a simple step, rather as a process that has trials, and requires perseverance and taking responsibility.

What the Trailer Reveals

The new trailer is an emotional and visually driven peek at the film and several things are apparent from viewing:

• Fights that are as brutal and demanding as the sport of boxing should be
• Mentors and young fighters in emotional conversation
• Great acting from the entire cast
• The gritty realities of communities shown with realism
• A theme of hope, perseverance, and metamorphosis

The new trailer is perfectly balanced with a gritty realism and hopefulness, it looks like it will be an emotionally and story driven film. It does not overplay its hand with melodrama, and seems to retain its emotional impact so far; hopefully, it can manage this throughout.

A Different Kind of Sports Drama

One thing that stands out to me as unique and interesting about They Fight is that the focus of success seems to be communal, not personal. So many sports movies tend to focus on an individual and their journey to a championship. While there is athleticism present in They Fight, the core of the film seems to lie more with the camaraderie present within the boxing program. True success doesn’t always come in a match. They include successes such as:

• Not dropping out of school.
• Not resorting to fighting.
• Increasing self esteem.
• Developing family relationships.
• Providing opportunities.

This level of emotional and social resonance within the story makes it compelling and I believe ultimately it poses the question; What is it to win?

Why This Film Matters Today

The themes that are addressed in They Fight couldn’t feel any more relevant. Youth development, mentoring, and access to resources is something that is still an issue for communities around the world. A positive mentor and a support network in the community could go a long way for any young person. They Fight addresses these issues through strong story telling and brings forth the conversations of how communities can play an active role. The media is all about making you feel and making you react. They Fight may be a catalyst to help promote the positive impact that mentors and communities can have on young lives.

Early Expectations and Awards Potential

Still relatively under-the-radar, the reception to the trailer for ‘They Fight’ alone has been spectacular, and in mixing this critically acclaimed group with a topic that is both relevant and immensely important, along with a critically lauded story source, it’s hard to see how this can miss critical recognition.Films centered around redemption, community, and social good have been well-rewarded in award season when paired with stellar performances, and Holland should undoubtedly get attention for his portrayal of Walt Manigan. So long as the completed film can live up to the promise of the trailer, it should undoubtedly be Hulu’s best original movie.

It seems They Fight is so much more than just another boxing film, the film is a tale of second chances, hope, mentorship, and the influence of community. It’s great to see Andr Holland, Wendell Pierce and Samira Wiley shine in this boxing-film, which proves the impact of one person working with and for the good of others. They Fight gives audiences a new approach to the sports-drama, one in which, along with its emotionally resonant story, takes a closer look at the lives within this world. The film does away with the glitz and glam of winning championship bouts, and delves into the lives in this sport outside of those battles, where much of life is lived and in many ways, these fights outside the ring is what determines life outside of it. It is quite apparent to everyone looking forward to seeing it that They Fight is about so much more than the competition in a boxing match, rather the fight people win in their lives outside of the ring, and that those can be fought with support and belief.