Forest Whitaker and Rachel McAdams are being eyed to star in the boxing drama Southpaw, which Jake Gyllenhaal has been attached to since November.

The story, written by Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter, follows a boxer who wins the welterweight title, but soon thereafter, his life is shattered due to a tragedy, forcing him to get back on the right track to earn his young daughter's respect. Forest Whitaker is in talks to play the boxing trainer who helps this fighter mount a comeback, with Rachel McAdams being offered the female lead by The Weinstein Company.

Deadline also reports that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) is being courted to play a social worker, looking out for the best interests of the boxer's young daughter.

Antoine Fuqua is directing, bringing on Richard Wenk to rewrite the script. Alan Riche and Peter Riche are producing alongside Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal. No production scheduled has been released at this time.

Forest Whitaker most recently starred in Out of the Furnace and Repentance, and he is also set to star in Taken 3. Rachel McAdams is coming off last year's romantic comedy About Time and she will next be seen in A Most Wanted Man and the Untitled Cameron Crowe Project.