Sneak Peek "Real Steel"

Sneak Peek new images from the currently shooting DreamWorks feature "Real Steel", set in a future world of boxing, competitive robots.

The science fiction feature stars Hugh Jackman ("Wolverine") and Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly ("Lost").

"...A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future, where the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech, 'Real Steel' stars Hugh Jackman as 'Charlie Kenton' (Jackson), a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son 'Max' (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback..."

"Real Steel" is the first film from DreamWorks after raising $650 million production funding from J.P. Morgan Securities and India-based Reliance Big Pictures. Disney also contributed $175 million to DreamWorks, for the exclusive distribution of new DreamWorks titles including "Real Steel".

"Real Steel", based on author Richard Matheson's short story,

was previously adapted for the 1963 "Twilight Zone" episode "Steel", written by Rod Serling, focusing on a world where human boxing has been outlawed in favor of a field dominated by 'fighting robots'.

In the episode, former boxer 'Steel Kelly' (Lee Marvin) manages an older model 'B2-model' robot called 'Battling Maxo'. When another robot gets damaged before a big fight event, Kelly is contacted to see if Maxo can fight in his place. Seizing the opportunity, Kelly assures the promoter Maxo is up to the task and uses the last of his money to get to the venue, for one last shot at the big time.

But when Kelly realizes Maxo's functions are beyond repair after too many years of wear and tear, he disguises himself as Maxo, almost getting himself killed in the ring by a battling 'B7 robot'.

In the end, the faux Maxo is awarded half the prize money for an amusingly 'poor' performance, with loyal Kelly promising to invest his winnings in new parts for Maxo.

"Real Steel" is one of 17 projects Spielberg and Stacey Snider retained as part of DreamWorks' split from Paramount.

DreamWorks initially acquired the project in 2005 for a reported $850,000, with writer John Gatins handing in the most recent draft screenplay.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Twilight Zone: Steel" and "Rock 'Em Sock' 'Em Robots"...