The biographical sports movie The Iron Claw premiers on December 2023, but there are already questions as to how accurate the film will be in terms of the true events. Starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw looks at the legacy of the Von Erich family, one of the most profound and legendary families in the wrestling industry. The movie examines how Fritz Von Erich established a wrestling business with his sons carrying on his legacy.
The upcoming The Iron Claw movie is set to look at the highs and lows of the family’s work in wrestling as they went through personal struggles and tragedies. Zac Efron portrays Kevin Von Erich, as the last surviving member of the Von Erich family. The Iron Claw plans to look at how the Von Erichs rose to heights and the tragedies they endured, but the official trailer has raised questions as to how faithful it will be to the realities of these tragedies.
The Iron Claw Trailer Hints At Erasing Chris Von Erich From The Movie’s Tragic Story
There were hints throughout the trailer that one member of the Von Erich family wasn’t going to be in the movie. In a dinner scene, the family patriarch, Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) mentions that Kerry was his favorite son “then Kev, then David, then Mike”, omitting any reference to his youngest son, Chris. A family portrait shown at the beginning of the trailer, reveals Kevin, Kerry, David, and Mike posing with their parents, with a photo of their deceased older brother Jack tucked into the frame; there is no physical representation of Chris Von Erich at any point in the trailer.
Born Christopher Adkisson, Chris was the youngest member of the Von Erich family, and according to his brother Kevin, the one who really wanted to become a wrestler. He started wrestling in 1990, in tag team matches with his brothers and he received strong support from fans. However, Chris suffered from health problems including brittle bones and asthma that impacted his wrestling career; fell into severe depression and died by suicide in 1991 at the age of 21.
What Chris Von Erich’s Absence Means For The Iron Claw’s Tragedies
The absence of Chris from The Iron Claw has caused slight scrutiny from viewers. Despite being the youngest, Chris Von Erich played a major part in his family’s story, often pictured supporting his older brothers, and he wrestled during a period when the Von Erichs were struggling to restore their reputation. In a documentary interview with Vice, wrestling promoter Jim Cornette spoke about how all Chris wanted was to be like his brothers and carry on his family’s legacy.
Removing Chris from the movie could cause issues for the story and its success. Many have raised concerns about how the movie intends to portray the family’s story and if it intends to make changes to any more real events that impacted the Von Erich family. With The Iron Claw still a couple of months away, it remains to be seen how accurate the film will turn out to be.
