Pro wrestling seems like fertile ground for the TV and movie industry, but until the appearance of Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler (2008) and Netflix's series Glow about a group of female wrestlers, productions enjoying both popular and critical success have been thin on the ground. It seems a strange omission, especially given the inherently dramatic sphere of pro wrestling.

One such example is that of the Von Erich family. Any wrestling fan worthy of the name will remember with fondness the Von Erichs. They were five brothers who all succeeded in the sport, taking as their inspiration their father, Fritz Von Erich. The Von Erichs dominated the world of pro wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s, racking up dozens of regional, national, and international titles between them and gaining a loyal band of fans.

However, for all the ringside triumphs the family enjoyed, the Von Erichs were also wracked with tragedy. Beset by illness and accidents, four of the five brothers died young, and a sixth died in childhood, leading some to speak of the "Von Erich curse." Such a storied legacy was never likely to remain untouched by Hollywood for long, and so, A24 is now bringing us The Iron Claw. The film will be directed by Sean Durkin and have Zac Efron in the lead role. Here's everything we know about the movie so far.

Update October 16, 2023: This article has been updated by Jessica Peerez with more recent information about The Iron Claw.

The Iron Claw: The Plot

The Iron Claw owes its title to the wrestling move of the same name that was popularized by the Von Erichs. The brothers' wrestling careers and lives will take center stage in the upcoming film. Of Fritz Von Erich's sons, Kevin was the first to turn pro, wrestling in his father's competitions and gaining the nickname "The Barefoot Boy" after having wrestled during one of his early bouts without any boots on. He was followed by brothers David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris, all of whom also turned pro, and several of whom became world champions.

But the family had to cope with the pressures of stardom, as well as more than the usual amount of bad luck. David died during a tour of Japan in 1984 from an acute bout of enteritis. The following year, Mike contracted toxic shock syndrome after a routine shoulder surgery and was in a severe car accident in 1986. The effects of both were debilitating, and he committed suicide the following year. The youngest brother, Chris, followed his siblings into wrestling but struggled due to brittle bones and killed himself in 1991. Finally, Kerry also died by suicide in 1993. The five brothers and Fritz were elected to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.

A24 released the first trailer for the highly anticipated film on October 11, 2023. The trailer gives viewers their first glimpse into The Iron Claw's gritty wrestling environment and the strong bond between the Von Erich brothers. The trailer starts off with viewers being introduced to a muscular Zac Efron in a wrestling ring as Kevin Von Erich. "Ever since I was a child, people said my family was cursed," begins the trailer, indicating from the get-go that the plot of the film will follow the lives, careers, and subsequent tragedy that plagued the family.

Wrestling clearly dominated the lives of the brothers, who fought together, creating a formidable legacy and reputation for themselves. The impact of their father on their lives is undeniable, although the trailer also reveals that the controlling nature of Fritz Von Erich proves too severe in the end. Despite success and glory, the family falls apart when tragedy after tragedy strikes them.

The Iron Claw: The Cast

Zac Efron, once again displaying his versatility as an actor, will be heading the cast as Kevin Von Erich. After a relatively quiet couple of years, Efron has had a busy 2022, seeing the premieres of three films in which he appeared in leading roles: Anthony Hayes' off-beat dystopian thriller Gold, the Stephen King adaptation Firestarter, and The Greatest Beer Run Ever. Talking about Efron as Kevin in The Iron Claw and the dedication it took to achieve the physique needed for the role, co-star Jeremy Allen White told Esquire:

"Zac's a maniac. He's so focused and knowledgeable on training, diet, all that. In terms of a physical transformation, I think he kind of blew us all out of the water. He looks really amazing in this thing."

Jeremy Allen White will take on the role of Kerry Von Erich, "The Texas Tornado," who became a five-time world heavyweight champion. White has starred in works such as The Bear and Shameless. Harris Dickinson will play David Von Erich. After coming to prominence following his breakthrough role in Eliza Hittman's Beach Rats (2017), Dickinson had many well-received performances, including the Palme d'Or-winning black comedy Triangle of Sadness, See How They Run, and Where The Crawdads Sing.

Making up the rest of the cast is Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich, Maura Tierney as Doris von Erich, and Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich. Lily James will also take on the role of Pam Adkisson, while Cazzey Louis Cereghino plays Bruiser Brody, with Kevin Anton as Harley Race and Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Ric Flair. Preserving the authenticity of The Iron Claw, the cast will also have several pro-wrestlers. Current World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman has been cast as Lance Von Erich, with Brady Pierce as Michael Hayes, Chavo Guerrero Jr as The Sheik and Ryan Nemeth taking on the role of Gino Hernandez.

Release Date

The Iron Claw is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 22, 2023. The film will have tough competition during its release week, being up against films such as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Ferrari and The Color Purple.

It has not been confirmed whether the film will head on to streaming services yet, but given that A24 films have previously been made available on Paramount+, Max, and Prime Video, The Iron Claw, too, may head to one of those three platforms after its theatrical run.