Mindhunter’s Holt McCallany to Play Wrestling Legend Fritz Von Erich in The Iron Claw

The cast of The Iron Claw is coming together with the addition of Mindhunter and Creepshow 2 star Holt McCallany. Per Deadline, McCallany has joined the cast of the A24 film which takes a look at the pro wrestling’s famous Von Erich family. McCallany will play pro wrestler Fritz Von Erich, the patriarch of the Von Erich family, with the actors playing his pro wrestling sons including Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Harris Dickinson.

Sean Durkin is writing and directing The Iron Claw. A24 will produce the film with Tessa Ross, Derrin Schlesinger, and Harrison Huffman. House Productions is developing the feature film with support from Access Entertainment and BBC Film.

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The name of the film comes from the Von Erich family’s trademark hold Fritz and his sons would deliver to opponents in the ring. According to a description of the movie, The Iron Claw follows “the rise and fall of the family dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day.” Tragically, Fritz Von Erich would lose five of his six sons before he’d passed away, most of them by suicide after struggles in the pro wrestling industry.

In recent years, McCallany had garnered acclaim for his starring role in two seasons of Netflix’s Mindhunter. The actor’s other recent work includes appearing in the films Wrath of Man, The Ice Road, and Nightmare Alley, as well as the AMC series 61st Street. McCallany will also play a significant role alongside Tom Cruise in the upcoming sequel Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two.

Related: Winter Soldier Star Sebastian Stan Wants to Play Ric Flair in a Wrestling Biopic

The Iron Claw Tells the Tragic True Story

Zac Efron will be playing Kevin Von Erich, the only one of Fritz Von Erich’s sons that did not die in his youth. Jeremy Allen White co-stars as Kerry Von Erich, Kevin’s brother who achieved worldwide fame when he performed for the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) as the “Texas Tornado.” Kerry died by suicide in 1993 at the age of 33. Harris Dickinson also stars as David Von Erich, who shockingly and suddenly died from an illness in 1984 when he was just 25.

The first of Fritz Von Erich’s children, Jack Jr., died in a freak accident when he was only six years old in 1959. Two other siblings also died by suicide, with Mike Von Erich dying in 1987 at the age of 23 followed by Chris Von Erich’s death in 1991 when he was 21 years old. The tragic true story of the Von Erichs, which was featured in an episode of the Vice series Dark Side of the Ring, has led to some wrestling fans suggesting the family had been “cursed.”

The Iron Claw does not yet have a premiere date.

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