I’m utterly fascinated with Sean Durkin’s upcoming film, The Iron Claw, as it centers on the tragic Von Erich wrestling family. As a wrestling fan literally since I was four years old, the story of the Von Erichs and their downfall is something I’m all too familiar with and can’t wait to see depicted in a dramatic fashion. And now there’s another reason to be excited for it, as Jeremy Allen White, star of the hit series The Bear, has joined the cast.
White will take on the role of Kerry Von Erich in The Iron Claw, joining Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich and Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich. Durkin will direct and write the screenplay.
Many believe the Von Erichs were cursed. Patriarch Fritz Von Erich led the revered wrestling family out of Texas where they were treated like royalty. Fritz’s first-born son Jack died at age 6 by drowning. His son David, seen as the greatest wrestler of all of Fritz’s kids, died in Tokyo in 1984 from inflammation of the small intestine, a totally freak thing to happen. Following that, Fritz’s wrestling sons Mike, Chris, and Kerry all committed suicide. His last surviving son, Kevin got out of the business but not without his share of emotional scars.
Like all of his siblings, Kerry had a rough go of it long before his death by suicide in 1993. In 1986 he was in a vehicle accident that nearly killed him. It cost him his foot, which he hid with a prosthesis and continued to wrestle, even getting hired by the WWF for the last couple of years of his career. After the accident, he became addicted to painkillers, a familiar story for too many professional wrestlers.
White’s most recent projects on the big screen include Dave Franco’s directorial debut, The Rental, and alongside Dakota Fanning in Viena and the Fantomes. A second season of The Bear is on the way at FX.
Look for A24 to release The Iron Claw late next year or early 2024. My hope is that with this much talent attached they’ll want to push it for the awards season.