The Iron Claw is a drama based on the real-life story of the Von Erich brothers, who fought in pursuit of wrestling stardom in the early 1980s. The movie stars Zac Efron (High School Musical, Neighbors), Jeremy Allen White (Shameless, The Bear), and Harris Dickinson (A Murder at the End of the World, Triangle of Sadness) as Kevin, Kerry, and David Von Erich, respectively. It was written and directed by Sean Durkin.
Screen Rant is happy to present a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Iron Claw focusing on the film’s wrestling trainer, Chavo Guerrero Jr. Part of The Iron Claw’s digital and home release, this featurette showcases Guerrero discussing his work both as a wrestler and a stunt coordinator, and how those two skills combine in this film. The featurette also features interviews with film stars Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White, and more.
The clip above shows a dedication to authenticity on behalf of the filmmakers and stars of The Iron Claw, and that approach gave star Zac Efron an opportunity to redefine himself as an actor. Zac Efron’s musicals are well-known, and the actor’s comedic chops are on full display in movies like Neighbors, but the story of the Von Erich brothers gave the actor a chance to surprise audiences. Efron was more than up to the task, earning rave reviews for his performance and opening doors to future dramatic roles.
For Jeremy Allen White, the wrestling movie offered the actor an opportunity to showcase his physical acting abilities in a new way. White’s dramatic chops are appreciated by those who have seen his award-winning turn as Carmy Berzatto in The Bear, but the physical transformation the actor underwent for The Iron Claw proves his versatility and likely introduced him to a whole new audience. These things can even play into each other, as The Iron Claw may boost The Bear season 3 in terms of interest and popularity.
The Iron Claw’s Screen Rant review also praises Harris Dickinson’s performance, and the movie’s success edges the actor closer to full-on star status. Though Dickinson’s performance in Triangle of Sadness was noteworthy both for its humor and dramatic effect, The Iron Claw saw the actor in front of his biggest audience yet. The movie proves to an even larger crowd that Dickinson has what it takes to lead films of the same dramatic weight, even as he also tackles genre projects like A Murder at the End of the World.