The world of professional wrestling is fascinating. It took The Wrestler to convince Hollywood of this fact, and now there are multiple film and TV projects centered on the real-life craziness that comes with sports entertainment. The most intriguing current film is The Iron Claw, based on the tragic tale of the Von Erich wrestling family, and it has just added to an already stacked cast.
Deadline reports that Lily James has joined Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, Jeremy Allen White, and Maura Tierney in The Iron Claw. Sean Durkin (The Nest) will write and direct the film, with Efron in the role of Kevin Von Erich, Dickinson as David, and White as Kerry. James’ role is unclear at this point, but my guess is she’ll play a significant other to one of the Von Erich brothers.
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.
James is coming off an Emmy-nominated performance in Pam & Tommy. She’ll be seen next in rom-com What’s Love Got to Do with It? opposite Emma Thompson.
A24 has yet to set a date for The Iron Claw as it’s in production now.
