Wrestling fans have long been familiar with the triumph and tragedy of the Von Erich family, a powerful professional wrestling dynasty that produced some of the biggest stars to ever enter the squared circle, but also some of the most heartbreaking stories the sport has ever known. At some point in the near future, non-wrestling fans will be introduced to the family and legacy with the release of The Iron Claw, which could very well become one of the best A24 movies yet, or at least the most heartbreaking.
The movie, which will see the likes of Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Holt McCallany portray some of the most iconic wrestlers to ever come out of the State of Texas, has the potential to become one of the greatest wrestling movies of all time before it’s all said and done. Here is everything we know about the upcoming A24 movie.
What Is The Iron Claw Release Date?
Audiences will get to explore the rise and fall of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty before the end of the year, as The Iron Claw is slated to be released theatrically on December 22, 2023, according to Variety.
Zac Efron Leads The Iron Claw Cast, With Jeremy Allen White, Lily James And Others Also Reported To Star
To properly tell the Von Erichs’ story, you need a large and talented ensemble cast. That won’t be a problem for The Iron Claw, as the group of actors selected to portray the legendary family on the big screen is impressive to say the very least. First, there’s the aforementioned Zac Efron, who will be playing Kevin Von Erich, one of the only surviving members of the wrestling family.
In September 2022, Deadline reported that Jeremy Allen White would be playing the late Kerry Von Erich, who also went by The Texas Tornado throughout his career. The following month, Deadline also revealed that Mindhunter Star Holt McCallany would be taking on the role of family patriarch Fritz Von Erich, with Maura Tierney taking on the role of his wife, Doris. Lily James, who received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Pamela Anderson on Pam & Tommy will take on the role of Kevin’s wife, Pam, per EW.
Other actors set to appear in The Iron Claw include Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich, Maura Tierney as Doris Von Erich, and Aaron Dean Eisenberg as the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, according to Deadline. AEW World Champion, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, MJF for short, will also appear in the cast, making his feature film acting debut, according to PWInsider.
The Iron Claw Trailer Teases Intense In-Ring Action And Family Dynamics
After months of teasing the movie with images of Zac Efron and other members of the cast in ridiculous shape, A24 unveiled The Iron Claw’s first trailer in October 2023, which was full of in-ring action and tense family dynamics. All of the major players in the Von Erich family and their inner circle are given time to shine in the trailer, but the main focus falls on Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White’s Texas grappler both in and outside the squared circle.
The two-minute video also teases the fates of several members of the Von Erich wrestling family, scenes that will surely bring audiences to tears once the movie is released in December. If The Iron Claw follows through with the promises of its trailer, we may have the best wrestling movie in recent memory on our hands.
The Iron Claw Will Chronicle The Rise And Fall Of The Von Erich Wrestling Dynasty
By the sounds of it, The Iron Claw will chronicle the rise and fall of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty, with IndieWire describing the official synopsis as a movie that focuses on the family of wrestlers who made a long lasting impact on the sport of professional wrestling from the 1960s to the present day. How much of that history – both the highest of highs and lowest of lows – is covered in the movie remains to be seen.
Many Consider The Von Erichs The Most Important Family In Wrestling History
Over the years, the world of professional wrestling has featured its fair share of wrestling dynasties, with the Hart family dominating Canadian territories with its Stampede Wrestling, the Anoa’i family producing generations of champions (including current WWE top dog Roman Reigns), the McMahon family taking the sport to new heights throughout the latter part of the 20th Century and beyond, and the Guerrero family introducing American audiences to the lucha libre style.
Some would argue that the Von Erichs are not only up there with those other all-time greats, but they are the most important family in the history of the sport. Not only did the family’s World Class Championship Wrestling promotion turn the Von Erich brothers into international superstars, it also featured the likes of Ric Flair, the Fabulous Freebirds, “Hacksaw” Butch Reed, El Santo, Blue Demon, and Bruiser Brody, and countless others.
There are documentaries about the wrestling dynasty, countless specials, and even a large section of David Shoemaker’s must-read The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling dedicated to the family and its legacy.
Sean Durkin Wrote And Directed The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin, the writer and director behind the decorated 2011 psychological thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene, which saw Elizabeth Olsen’s titular character attempt to escape a charismatic and ruthless cult leader played by John Hawkes, is the filmmaker spearheading The Iron Claw, according to Deadline.
In the years since making his directorial debut, Durkin has gone on to create the British drama series Southcliffe and then the 2020 drama film The Nest starring Jude Law and Carrie Coon.
Chavo Guerrero Jr. Served As The Wrestling Consultant On The Set Of The Iron Claw
Chavo Guerrero Jr., one of the most prolific members of the Guerrero wrestling dynasty and multi-time Cruiserweight Champion in various promotions like WCW and WWE, worked on the set of The Iron Claw, serving as a wrestling consultant. In a November 2022 interview with WrestlingInc, Guerrero explained that he received a call from director Sean Durkin asking if he would help out with the in-ring scenes. Guerrero, who previously served in a similar role on the Netflix series GLOW, said he was also encouraged by the show’s former lead actress Alison Brie to work with Durkin on the project.
Prior to working on The Iron Claw, Guerrero worked as the wrestling consultant on Dwayne Johnson’s autobiographical comedy series Young Rock.
Stars Zac Efron And Jeremy Allen White Appear To Be Bulking Up For Their Portrayals Of The Von Erich Brothers
To pull off the ridiculously chiseled physiques and in-ring talents of the Von Erichs, The Iron Claw stars Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White had to get beefed-up while preparing for the roles. Images of Efron on set published by People in November 2022, showed the bulked-up actor looking like the spitting image of Kevin Von Erich, tan, tank-top, and ‘80s haircut included. Around the same time, it was revealed in a GQ profile that White, coming off the success of The Bear, will be trying to put on a staggering 40 pounds of muscle to play Kerry Von Erich.
There isn’t all that much time before The Iron Claw opens in theaters and introduces audiences to one of the most triumphant and tragic stories in the history of professional wrestling. While we wait for its release,, it wouldn’t hurt to check up on the other 2023 new movies slated to open in the final weeks of the year..
