A tantalising tag team of A24 and director Sean Durkin places The Iron Claw high on the radar of projects to keep an eye on.
With its over-the-top theatrics and gaudy pageantry, pro-wrestling is generally considered to be lowbrow entertainment or a product aimed squarely at children. However, peel back the surface of some of these American legends, criss-crossing the country almost every day of the year to put their bodies through hell, all for the roar of a crowd who likely don’t even know their real name, and you can find a surprising degree of pathos.
It’s an idea that was explored with great deftness in Barry W Blaustein’s 2008 documentary film, Beyond The Mat. Darren Aronofsky also explored similar ideas to great dramatic effect whilst directing Mickey Rourke to a career high performance in 2008’s The Wrestler.
Admittedly, we don’t have quite the same lofty expectations for Chris Hemsworth’s announced Hulk Hogan biopic (although we’re sure his physique will be mightily impressive), but another pro-wrestling movie project has been announced which might just have the required bite to distinguish itself as something special.
Director Sean Durkin is set to follow up 2020’s The Nest with The Iron Claw, a ‘gritty and transformative’ wrestling drama that follows the Von Erichs, a legendary family in the pro-wrestling world who have been beset by tragedy.
A24 is backing the project, along with Access Entertainment, and BBC Films. And with Zac Efron seemingly looking to expand his work to include roles of a more dramatic nature, this could be one to watch.
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