A24’s upcoming wrestling drama “The Iron Claw” finally has a trailer. Stars Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear“) look jacked and “ring ready.” Directed by Sean Durkin, the film centers on the Von Erich wrestling dynasty.
Efron will be starring as the “Golden Warrior” Kevin Von Erich, with White playing his brother, Kerry Von Erich. Holt McCallany will be co-staring as Fritz Von Erich, the patriarch of the Von Erich family and former three-time world champion. The film will explore the family members’ lives and depict the rise and fall of the influential wrestling family. Lily James, Maura Tierney, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons will also star in the film.
The film had already gained a lot of attention prior to the trailer release due to the bulking up of Efron and White. White aimed to put on 40 pounds of muscle for this role, whereas Efron’s Von Erich-inspired bowl cut prompted a lot of social media jokes.
Previously known for musicals and comedies, this will be the second dramatic biopic in Efron‘s career. Did anyone else expect the kid from “High School Musical” going playing notorious serial killer Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile?” White, who turned in 11 seasons of stellar work on “Shameless,” recently found critical and audience praise for his work in “The Bear,” garnering him multiple awards.
Writer and director Durkin has previously worked on critically acclaimed psychological dramas. “The Nest” and “Martha Mary May Marlene” are two of Durkin’s projects that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Von Erich family are very well known in the professional wrestling community, and not just for their championship reigns. With all the successes the family experienced, there were also a fair share of tragedies. Sadly five of Fritz’s six sons passed away before the age of 33. Three of them tragically committed suicide.
A24‘s “The Iron Claw” will hit theaters December 22nd, 2023. Check out the trailer down below:
