Fans of Martin Scorsese’s 1980 biopic Raging Bull will be excited – or horrified – to hear that a sequel is currently in production and due to hit the big screen next year.

Raging Bull II promises to take the viewer “before and after the rage”, picking up from where Scorsese left off. 

The lesser known Martin Guigui will be in the director’s chair, while William Forsythe will replace Robert De Niro in the iconic role as middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta.

Adapted from LaMotta’s original 1970 memoir, Raging Bull II hopes to cover some of the territory not featured in the original film, including the boxer’s rise to fame and his later life as an entertainer.

LaMotta was the world middleweight champion between 1949 and 1951, yet outside the ring his career was plagued by violence and unstable relationships. 

After losing to Sugar Ray Robinson, LaMotta retired from boxing to pursue a life in stand-up comedy and film cameos, but eventually fell into obscurity. 

Now aged 90, he enjoys success on the autograph circuit and has published several books about his career.

Scorsese recently told GQ he had no interest in the sequel, stating, “We said all we had to say at the time. I really don’t know what Raging Bull II would be.”

DeNiro similarly has no intention of returning to film. The 68-year-old actor -who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of LaMotta - will, however, exchange blows with Sylvester Stallone in upcoming boxing parody Grudge Match.