Netflix Nears Deal for Halle Berry MMA Drama ‘Bruised’

Halle Berry stars in and directed the Netflix film Bruised (Credit: IMDb)

Netflix is in final talks to pick up Bruised, a mixed martial arts drama directed by and starring Halle Berry.

After Variety reported Friday that the streaming giant was nearing a $20 million deal for the film, Berry confirmed the negotiations on Twitter, writing: “I am speechless. Thank you @netflix for believing in my vision, cannot wait for y’all to finally see #BruisedTheMovie.”

Bruised is the Oscar winner’s directorial debut. The film will screen virtually this weekend at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Berry plays Jackie “Justice,” who is described on the TIFF website as a “washed-up MMA fighter struggling for redemption as both an athlete and a mother… As Jackie prepares to go back to the only thing she is good at, the son she once abandoned is dropped off at her doorstep. Confronted by her past choices and traumas, Jackie will have to fight to reclaim the two most meaningful things she has walked away from: six-year-old Manny and an MMA title.”

Related Story: Sean Bell’s Father on the Film ’50 Shots’ and Jason Mitchell Playing His Slain Son (Exclusive)

As previously reported, Berry was injured while filming a fight scene for Bruised in November 2019. Production at a gym in Newark, New Jersey was briefly delayed to give the actress time to recover. The film’s executive producer, Brian Pitt, said at the time, “She’s tired. She needed a break.”

Bruised was written by Michelle Rosenfarb. Producers include Basil Iwanyk, Brad Feinstein, Guymon Casady, Erica Lee, Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis, Terry Dougas, Linda Gottlieb and Gillian Hormel.