Why did The Iron Claw Leave One Von Erich Brother Out? The Iron Claw Plot
by Madhumitha
Updated Dec 21, 2023
Why The Iron Claws Leave One Von Erich Brother Out?
The Iron Claw, a film portraying the tragic story of the famous Von Erich family in professional wrestling during the '80s, focuses primarily on the lives and struggles of four of the Von Erich brothers: Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike. Notably absent from the movie is the youngest brother, Chris Von Erich.
The decision to omit Chris from the narrative was made by Sean Durkin, the writer, and director of the film, with the intention of streamlining the storyline and focusing more deeply on specific aspects of the family's experiences.
Durkin clarified that Chris's exclusion was not due to disregarding his significance but was a deliberate choice made to better serve the storytelling and maintain a coherent narrative structure.
Initially included in the original script, Chris's character was eventually left out as Durkin needed to condense the extensive Von Erich family saga into a film format. This decision was described as one of the toughest calls during the filmmaking process.
To preserve the essence of Chris within the storyline, Durkin merged certain elements of Chris's personality and familial role with that of Mike, the brother closest to him in age. Both Chris and Mike experienced the weight of their older brothers' legacies but in different ways.
While Mike was somewhat coerced into wrestling despite minimal interest, Chris harbored a strong desire to uphold the family's wrestling tradition but struggled to find success in the ring due to health issues and personal challenges.
In reality, Chris Von Erich faced numerous health problems, including asthma and brittle bones, which hindered his ability to thrive as a professional wrestler like his father and older brothers. His inability to attain the same level of success as his family members led to deep depression, culminating tragically in his suicide at the age of 21 in 1991, a few years before the deaths of Kerry and Mike.
The film's exclusion of Chris was a narrative decision aimed at effectively depicting the family's struggles within the constraints of a film's duration while still acknowledging the complexities and hardships faced by each member of the Von Erich family.
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The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw is a movie released in 2023 about a famous wrestler named Kevin Von Erich and his family. It tells the story of their lives and struggles. The film stars actors like Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, and Lily James.
The movie first premiered at the Texas Theatre in Dallas on November 8, 2023. It's set to come out in the United States on December 22, 2023, through A24 and in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2024, through Lionsgate. The National Board of Review recognized it as one of the top 10 films of 2023.
"The Iron Claw" is a biographical sports drama that showcases the journey of a wrestler and his family, featuring a talented cast and gaining recognition as a notable film of its year.
The Iron Claw Plot
The movie is about the Von Erich family, a group of wrestlers from Texas who became very famous in the 1980s. They were known for using a wrestling move called the iron claw.
But besides their fights in the wrestling ring, they also faced a lot of sad things in their personal lives. This series of terrible things that happened to them is sometimes called the "Von Erich curse." The family had to deal with many difficult tragedies outside of their wrestling careers.
The Iron Claw Cast
Actors
Characters
Zac Efron
Kevin Von Erich
Jeremy Allen White
Kerry Von Erich
Harris Dickinson
David Von Erich
Maura Tierney
Doris Von Erich
Stanley Simons
Mike Von Erich
Holt McCallany
Fritz Von Erich
Lily James
Pam Adkisson
Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Lance Von Erich
Brady Pierce
Michael Hayes
Aaron Dean Eisenberg
Ric Flair
Kevin Anton
Harley Race
Cazzey Louis Cereghino
Bruiser Brody
Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Edward "The Sheik" Farhat
Ryan Nemeth
Gino Hernandez
Scott Innes
Ring Announcer
Release of The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw had its first showing at the Texas Theatre in Dallas on November 8, 2023. This was just after the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike had ended. At this premiere event, Kevin Von Erich made a public appearance in Dallas for the first time in more than 20 years. He was there alongside Bill Mercer, Marshall, Ross Von Erich, and Trish Stratus.
The movie is set to come out in the United States on December 22, 2023, through A24. It's also planned to have its debut in the United Kingdom by Lionsgate on February 9, 2024.
The Iron Claw Trailer
Why The Iron Claws Leave One Von Erich Brother Out?-FAQs
Chris was omitted from the film to streamline the story and focus on other Von Erich brothers due to narrative constraints.
The film primarily focuses on Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike Von Erich.
Sean Durkin, the director, merged aspects of Chris's personality and role with another brother, Mike, to maintain the essence of his story within the film.
Chris faced health issues that prevented him from succeeding as a wrestler like his family. He tragically died by suicide at the age of 21.
The film follows the Von Erich family's rise in professional wrestling during the '80s, highlighting their success in the ring and the personal tragedies they faced outside of it, known as the "Von Erich curse."