Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White Flex Their Muscles in New ‘The Iron Claw’ Image

A24’s much-anticipated wrestling biopic, “The Iron Claw,” featuring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White, is all set to hit theaters on December 22, 2023, sharing the spotlight with other highly awaited films during the holiday season, including Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel, The Color Purple musical adaptation, and Michael Mann’s Ferrari.

The film delves into the tragic narrative of the Von Erich wrestling family, renowned for their prominence in Texas pro wrestling during the 70s and 80s, but plagued by a series of misfortunes and losses. Portraying the Von Erich brothers with accuracy required rigorous physical training for the actors, and a recently released image from the movie exhibits their impressive transformations.

Zac Efron takes on the role of Kevin Von Erich, while Jeremy Allen White portrays his brother Kerry. The film also features Harris Dickinson as their brother David, Holt McCallany as their father Fritz, Maura Tierney as their mother Doris, and Lily James as Kevin’s wife, Pam. The image from the movie captures the Von Erich brothers in a scene set at the family ranch, showcasing the cast’s dedication to getting into pro wrestling shape for the project.

The Von Erich wrestling family’s tale is a tragic one, with patriarch Fritz Von Erich, originally known as pro wrestler Jack Adkisson, becoming a star with his athletic prowess and signature “Iron Claw” hold. As his sons entered the wrestling business, the family rose to prominence in Texas wrestling during the ’70s and ’80s. However, they were plagued by a string of unfortunate events, leading to what some referred to as the “Von Erich curse.” Tragedy struck repeatedly, with one son passing away at six due to an electrocution accident, another dying while wrestling in Japan in 1984, and three brothers dying by suicide in the subsequent years. Fritz, the patriarch, succumbed to brain cancer in 1997, leaving Kevin Von Erich as the sole surviving brother. Kevin’s story has been covered in documentaries such as ESPN’s 30 for 30 and Vice’s Dark Side of the Ring, and he, along with his family, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.

Directed by Sean Durkin, known for “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” “The Iron Claw” received financing and production support from A24, along with co-financing from Access Entertainment and BBC Film. The film is produced by Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Angus Lamont from House Productions, Durkin, and A24, with Derrin Schlesinger and Harrison Huffman from House Productions, Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen from Access Entertainment, and Eva Yates from BBC Film serving as executive producers.

As the release date draws near, fans eagerly await this powerful wrestling biopic that sheds light on the compelling but tragic story of the Von Erich family.

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More about wrestling biopic

• Variety: Source for the film’s release date and other movie news.
• Wikipedia – Von Erich Family: Provides detailed information about the Von Erich wrestling family and their history in pro wrestling.
• IMDb – The Iron Claw: IMDb page for “The Iron Claw” wrestling biopic, featuring the cast, crew, and additional details about the film.
• ESPN’s 30 for 30: Official page for ESPN’s documentary series, which covered Kevin Von Erich’s story.
• Vice’s Dark Side of the Ring: Official page for Vice’s documentary series, including episodes featuring the Von Erich family.
• WWE Hall of Fame: WWE’s page honoring Kevin Von Erich and his family’s induction into the Hall of Fame.
• Sean Durkin – IMDb: IMDb page for Sean Durkin, the director of “The Iron Claw.”
• A24: Official website of A24, the film’s production and financing company.
• Access Entertainment: Official website of Access Entertainment, one of the co-financiers of the movie.
• BBC Film: Official page for BBC Film, another co-financier of “The Iron Claw.”