The role of a professional wrestler can have devastating effects on the body and mind after a few falls and falls while shooting in the ring.
But for Zac Efron, who slipped into pro wrestler Kevin Von Erich’s trunks for new biographical sports film The Iron Claw, he confessed that “the biggest hurt” he suffered during all the high-flying action was to his ego.
“It was the first time ever that I had to enter the Sportatorium in Kevin’s full costume, which honestly was just a Speedo or a pair of trunks,” the actor recalled at a press conference following the film’s premiere in Dallas, Texas. “And everyone was out there, there was a huge crowd and the lights were on. “I just remember thinking at that moment, ‘How the hell did I end up here?’ What’s going on?’
As the raucous crowd screamed and screamed, Efron recalled the thought that ran through his mind at the time: “This is Magic Mike,” a reference to the 2012 film about male stripping.
The San Luis Obispo, California native added, “In that moment I was frozen in time and thought, ‘This is it.’ This is the end. How did you come here? What decisions have you made?’
Bruised ego: Zac Efron, 36, admitted his ego suffered “the biggest bruise” while filming a scene in The Iron Claw in skimpy trunks
Written and directed by Sean Durkin, the film centers on the Von Erich (née Adkisson) family, a dynasty of professional wrestlers from Texas who achieved enormous success, particularly in the 1980s, and popularized the professional wrestling handle Iron Claw.
Efron, 36, stars alongside Jeremy Allen White (Kerry Von Erich), 32, and Harris Dickinson (David Von Erich), 27, who all play brothers.
When Durkin heard him hesitate about prancing around in just a pair of skimpy swim shorts, he joked, “We just wanted to celebrate your beautiful thighs.”
The story tells the true story of the rise and fall of wrestler Kevin Von Erich and his brothers, who left a lasting impact on the sport.
The “Baywatch” alum would also reveal at Wednesday’s press conference how his real-life character Von Erich motivated him to hit the gym and strengthen himself for the role.
“The physicality that he brought to the ring every day was truly unique.” “It changed wrestling,” Efron told “Entertainment Tonight,” adding, “I knew that was going to be the hardest thing.” [thing] so that I can master it and do it right. So I put everything I had into it.’
The real Kevin Von Erich, now 66, was also present at the press conference. He praised film consultant and stunt wrestling coordinator Chavo Guerrero for “doing a great job pushing them along and preparing them. Because it was a lot harder than it looks and they did it so well.”
When asked what he thought of professional wrestling after training and performing in the ring firsthand, Efron said he gained “a tremendous respect for the athleticism involved.”
“Revealing: There was a huge crowd and the lights were on. I just remember thinking in that moment, ‘How the hell did I end up here?’ What’s going on?’ Efron (left) said he had to film scenes in speedos in front of the raucous crowd
Moment of clarity: As the raucous crowd screamed and screamed, Efron recalled the thought that ran through his mind at the time: “This is Magic Mike,” a reference to the 2012 film about male stripping
Wrestling Family: Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson play two of Kevin Von Erich’s brothers (Efron) in the sports biopic written and directed by Sean Durkin
Reduced: Efron and White have a lot of scenes in Speedos
Coming soon: “The Iron Claw” is scheduled to hit theaters on December 22nd in the US and February 9th, 2024 in the UK
“There’s a commitment and a certain amount of excruciating torture, just pure athleticism for the sake of athleticism,” he explained.
Efron had already gotten bigger and wore swim shorts for his role in the 2017 film Baywatch with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
While “The Iron Claw” shows the family’s rise in the sport, it unfortunately also tells of the many battles and tragedies they faced outside of the ring, known as the “Von Erich Curse.”
In addition to Efron, White and Dickinson, the cast also includes Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, Lily James, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Brady Pierce, Aaron Dean Eisenberg, Kevin Anton, Cazzey Louis Cereghino, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Ryan Nemeth and Scott Innes .
The Iron Claw is scheduled to hit theaters on December 22nd in the US and February 9th, 2024 in the UK.