There are many Mikes in the world, but the most famous remains Tyson, the heavyweight icon who bit Evander Holyfield and ripped a piece of his ear in 1997 during a title bout. The mini-series Mike opens with that infamous moment, presenting a fictional Tyson who insists on owning his story and guiding the eight-episode arc at a brisk pace. There’s a clear push to rewind, then resistance to doing so.
Whether he’s narrating a self-contained performance that frames the narrative (a one-man show he has toured across America since 2013) or breaking the fourth wall in flashbacks, Tyson continually comments on what we see and how it’s told. The series aims to chart a meteoric rise in boxing while also scrutinizing the myths that surround it. A twist remains: what should read as a personal chronicle hasn’t settled smoothly with Tyson, who recently used social media to accuse a streaming platform of stealing his life story without compensation.
The lead actor, Trevante Rhodes, who previously carried a heavy responsibility in another acclaimed drama, joins Tyson’s return to the screen with the sense that the role will demand a deep understanding of the fighter’s contradictions. Rhodes speaks of the preparation, saying he worked to capture not just the look but the twitching energy and inner conflict that define Tyson. The performance seeks to reveal the kid from the neighborhood who became a symbol of triumph and trouble alike, a fusion that still resonates for many fans even as the modern retelling reinterprets it.
fights everywhere
directors Craig Gillespie and Steve Rogers, following their collaboration on a sharp portrait of another controversial figure, bring a restless, moving camera to Tyson’s life. The show traces Tyson from childhood in Brownsville, New York, a place often cited for its harsh realities, through early signs of talent that suggested greatness to come. The production scenes shift between street-level environments and intimate interiors as Tyson’s story unfolds, offering a sense of lived experience rather than a distant biography.
Early on, Tyson’s life faced turmoil and confinement, including time in a juvenile facility where boxing revealed a path forward. The path then led to the mentorship of Cus D’Amato, the famed trainer who took him in after tragedy. D’Amato’s influence anchors a period when Tyson would rise to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history. The show notes the fragility of those moments, acknowledging the human costs that accompanied unprecedented success.
any intention
As the relationship with his first wife, actress Robin Givens, became highly public, Tyson faced a rapid turn of events. The series presents his perspective on marriage and media narratives, including claims about manipulation and misrepresentation. The portrait of those years grapples with public perception and the pressures of fame, inviting viewers to consider who benefits from certain depictions of personal life.
The narrative also introduces Russell Hornsby as Don King, the controversial promoter whose involvement shaped Tyson’s mid-career comeback. Hornsby explains his process of building a character, drawing on biographies and online footage to find the human core beyond the caricature, avoiding mere imitation in favor of truthfulness.
Other premieres of Disney Day
The Disney Day celebration extends beyond Mike with a range of new offerings. Pistol, a limited series about the Sex Pistols, delivers a bold look at a controversial moment in music history, crafted by Craig Pearce and directed by Danny Boyle. The lineup also includes a mix of genres and tones, from comedies and thrillers to documentary projects that focus on real-life journeys and coming-of-age stories. On the film side, a fresh Pinocchio arrives from a well-known director, featuring digital effects and familiar faces, while big-screen adventures continue with the latest superhero chapter from a major studio.