Zac Efron's Von Erich biopic, The Iron Claw, casts its Ric Flair.
Deadline reports that The Deuce actor Aaron Dean Eisenberg will play the Nature Boy in the A24 drama following the careers and the tragedies of the Von Erich family. Eisenberg's role as Flair is expected to be a cameo appearance likely to spotlight the multi-time world champion's legendary rivalry with Kerry Von Erich, which culminated in the NWA Championship match in 1984. Eisenberg joins star Efron as surviving Von Erich brother Kevin Von Erich.
With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Flair is considered the most influential professional wrestler of all time. From the mid-'70s through the '80s, he was the premier attraction of the NWA and later WCW, with memorable feuds with the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Sting and Ricky Steamboat. While holding the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 1991, Flair dramatically walked away from the company to join the WWF, where he went on to win the WWF World Title at the 1992 Royal Rumble.
Flair continued to serve as an active wrestler and manager for multiple wrestling organizations over the next three decades and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2008. In 2019, Flair was admitted to an Atlanta hospital after a serious health scare. After an undisclosed procedure, the Nature Boy made a full recovery just days later. This past September, Flair spoke about rumors of a potential biopic about his career with hopes that Bradley Cooper would star.
"That's only rumored," Flair said. "I mean, I've heard it officially, but it's not in place. So, ladies and gentlemen, it's not true that he's playing Ric Flair. I've heard they've talked to him, that's it. Bradley Cooper is not playing me in a movie, yet. I hope he does."
Spanning from the '60s to the present day, The Iron Claw will follow the rise and fall of the Von Erich family dynasty. For all of their achievements in the NWA and World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), the Von Erichs were more known for their tragedies outside the ring. Their story was documented in the 2019 Dark Side of the Ring episode "The Last of the Von Erichs," which featured Kevin Von Erich as an interview subject.
Written and directed by Sean Durkin, The Iron Claw also stars Efron and Eisenberg alongside Harris Dickinson, Holt McCallany, Jeremy Allen White, Maura Tierney and AEW's Maxwell Jacob Friedman aka MJF. The Iron Claw does not have a release date.
Source: Deadline