Know what’s pretty weird? Despite having one of the most interesting 14 years in the history of the sport, there hasn’t really been a good pro wrestling movie since 2008, when The Wrestler‘s Mickey Rourke lost to Sean fucking Penn at the Oscars. In that time, WWE’s biggest talents have become the last bona fide movie stars (just look at where Rocky Maivia is these days), Indie and Japanese wrestling promotions have become much more popular, and Vince McMahon’s practical monopoly on “Sports Entertainment” ended when the son of the dude who owns the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to bring Wrasslin’ back to Turner networks.
There are, of course, no shortage of insanely screen-worthy stories within the world of wrestling — hell, Ric Flair has lived a life with more insane shit in it than 50 semi-similar dudes with half of his build and half of his charisma — but it’s telling that the first to make it to the big screen will be the tale of the Von Erichs, wrestling’s most tragic dynasty.
Sean Durkin’s The Iron Claw is an A24 release, starring a whole host of famous people — Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, Lily James, that one dude from that show The Bear that people keep trying to convince us actually exists and is not a cultural hallucination — but we’re most excited about the actual wrestling talent Durkin got for this: Namely, the best heel working in the business, Maxwell Jacob Friedman. You’ll see him in the trailer. Just watch.
Peep it:
Now go watch all of his AEW matches. Guy’s a king. Anyway, here’s a synopsis:
“The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.”
The Iron Claw hits theaters on December 22. Between this and Ferrari, that dude you know who buys Rucking Fotten shirts, shitposts about Heat, and definitely still sleeps with his ‘Taker pillow-sized stuffie is gonna be eatin’ good in the neighborhood come Christmas. We know we will be.