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Gladiator II doesn't do enough to set itself apart from the original. It justifies its existence but could have been better.
Posted in: A24, Movies | Tagged: a24, aew, mjf, The Iron Claw, The Von Erich Family
Von Erich A24 Wrestling Biopic Shows First Image, Casts AEW's MJF
The Von Erich wrestling family is the stuff of legend, and their story is coming to the big screen. A24 is in production on the wrestling biopic titled The Iron Claw from director Sean Durkin. Attached to star in the film are Jeremy Allen White, Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney, and Lily James. Also joining the cast today is AEW professional wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman, aka MJF. A24, Tessa Ross, Derrin Schlesinger, and Harrison Huffman will produce the film. The production also released the first still from the film, which you can see below.
The Von Erich Family Story Is Laced With Tragedy
"The Von Erich family is an American professional wrestling family. Originally from Texas, their actual surname is Adkisson, but every member who has been in the wrestling business has used the ring name "Von Erich," after the family patriarch, Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson). Jack took on the name as part of his wrestling gimmick, i.e., in-ring persona, as he initially portrayed a villainous (heel in wrestling terminology) German Nazi, hence using a German-sounding name.
When Fritz died of cancer in his Denton County home in 1997 at 68, five of his six sons predeceased him. His firstborn, Jack Jr., was accidentally shocked and drowned in a puddle at the age of 6 in 1959 outside his Niagara Falls home. In 1984, David Von Erich died in a Tokyo hotel from enteritis at the age of 25. Mike, Chris, and Kerry all committed suicide; Mike took an overdose of Placidyl near Lewisville Lake in 1987 at the age of 23, Chris shot himself in the head with a 9mm handgun in 1991 at the age of 21, and Kerry shot himself in the chest in the family yard in 1993 at the age of 33. Kevin Von Erich is the last surviving son."
There was nothing bigger in wrestling than The Von Erichs in the southern United States back in the day, and their tale has been ripe for Hollywood to tell for ages. I am surprised it took this long. This is one of my personal most anticipated films of 2023, which is when I assume this will release.
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