The biographical sports movie The Iron Claw is set to be one of the best biopic films of recent years, and it has already gotten approval from one of the most important people it portrays. The Iron Claw tells the story of the Von Erich wrestling family, one of the most successful families in wrestling history. The movie examines how family patriarch Fritz von Erich established his wrestling business and how his sons carried on his legacy.
The Iron Claw looks at the different highs and lows that the family faced throughout the years as they established their name in the wrestling business. It also looks at the multiple tragedies that were faced by the family in later years. Zac Efron’s portrayal of Kevin Von Erich is already being praised by those who have seen the film, with one special review being the most important — that of Kevin Von Erich himself.
Character | Actor |
|---|---|
Kevin Von Erich | Zac Efron |
Kerry Von Erich | Jeremy Allen White |
Fritz Von Erich | Holt McCallaney |
David Von Erich | Harris Dickinson |
Mike Von Erich | Stanley Simons |
Doris Von Erich | Maura Tierney |
Pam Adkisson | Lily James |
Why Kevin Von Erich’s Approval Is So Important For The Iron Claw
In The Iron Claw, Zac Efron portrays wrestler Kevin Von Erich, the second-oldest son of Fritz Von Erich and his wife Doris. The biopic movie had its premiere at the Texas Theatre in Dallas, where the Von Erich family were highly popular during their time as wrestlers. Kevin Von Erich returned from his home in Hawaii to Dallas for the first time in 20 years to attend the premiere. In an interview with Variety, Zac Efron revealed that he met Von Erich the night before the premiere, and they talked about the movie; during their talk, Von Erich revealed that he loved the movie and greatly admired Efron’s portrayal of him.
Efron admitted that Von Erich’s approval “meant everything” to him. During the premiere (via FOX 4 News), Von Erich stated that he felt Holt McCallaney’s portrayal of Fritz Von Erich was startlingly accurate to how his father was in real life, and he also expressed hope that viewers would watch and realize that, despite all of their hardships, the family really loved each other. Von Erich’s approval of his family’s portrayal means the movie has likely stayed as true as possible in relation to the real story, which is essential when it comes to biopics.
The Iron Claw Could Be Zac Efron’s Best Movie Yet
Zac Efron underwent a big transformation to get into his part in The Iron Claw. Alongside co-star Jeremy Allen White, he committed himself to a strict training schedule and calorie intake. Director and writer Sean Durkin received consultation and help from professional wrestler Chavo Guerrero (who portrays The Sheik in the film) in order to ensure that the wrestling matches depicted were realistic. Backed by the approval of Kevin Von Erich and with his acting being praised at the early stages of release, The Iron Claw could be the best movie of Zac Efron’s career so far.
Sources: Variety, FOX 4 News
