A24 is shining a spotlight on the renowned Von Erich wrestling family, complete with their fabled curse. In this highly-anticipated wrestling drama, Efron and White gear up to step into the ring.
A24 has just unveiled the initial trailer for “The Iron Claw,” a film written and directed by Sean Durkin. The movie delves into the story of how the Von Erich brothers climbed to stardom in the fiercely competitive world of professional wrestling, all while confronting personal and professional tragedies.
Among the six Von Erich brothers, five chose to pursue careers in professional wrestling, amassing numerous prestigious titles. The eldest brother, Jack, tragically lost his life in a childhood accident. Efron takes on the role of Kevin, the eldest surviving brother, while the cast also features White as Kerry Von Erich, Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich, and Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich. Lily James portrays Kevin’s wife, Pam.
Maura Tierney plays the role of the boys’ mother, Doris, while Holt McCallany, known for his role in “Mindhunter,” appears as their formidable father, Fritz. Fritz originally established his wrestling career in the 1960s and later encouraged his sons to follow in his footsteps. In fact, the Von Erich name stems from Fritz’s stage persona when he first wrestled as a fictional Nazi antagonist. Fritz was the one who popularized the family’s signature move: the Iron Claw, a maneuver in which a wrestler grips their opponent’s face and applies pressure with all five fingers.
While each of the Von Erich brothers achieved fame in professional wrestling, their lives were also marked by a series of tragic events, leading to rumors about the existence of the so-called “Von Erich curse.”
As Efron’s Kevin states in the trailer, “Ever since I was a child, people said my family was cursed. Mom tried to protect us with God. Pop tried to protect us with wrestling. He said if we were the toughest, strongest, nothing would ever hurt us. I believed it. We all did.”
Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, “The Iron Claw” has secured an interim agreement, permitting its cast to promote the film publicly.
Mark your calendars for the release of “The Iron Claw” on December 22nd. Be sure to watch the trailer above.