Nicolas Cage is in talks to star in The Wrestler, written by Robert Siegel. The film, which is in development at Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures, follows a 1980s-era pro wrestling star named Randy “The Ram” Robinson who has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. Ram has a heart attack in a small-time match, and his doctor warns him that if he ever fights again, he would be risking his own life.
In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis the Ayatollah proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.
Cage has yet to sign a contract, and it is unknown if Requiem For A Dream and The Fountain helmer Darren Aronofsky will personally direct this project, or sit on the sidelines and produce. Aronofsky is hard at work on a pre-strike film for Paramount called The Fighter, which stars Mark Wahlberg as boxer “Irish” Micky Ward in the mid-80’s. So I do find it a bit strange that Aronofsky would be making two films inside the squared circle.
Long before I ever thought of becoming a movie blogger (or knew what a “blogger” was), I ran a popular pro wrestling news website called WrestleNet. In the late-90’s, wrestling was back in style (or at least as far as it was going to get), and I found the behind the scenes dealings to be insanely interesting. I haven’t watched “sports entertainment” in years, and no longer have the craving while I come across the USA Network while channel flipping. Although I do firmly believe that Hogan Knows Best on VH1 is one of the best reality shows on television.
Most wrestling movies out there (No Holds Barred and Ready to Rumble quickly come to mind) treat the business and its fans with such disrespect. I would also like to recommend two great documentaries which show you the real side of pro wrestling: Barry W. Blaustein’s Beyond the Mat and Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows. I highly recommend both of these documentaries, even if you (and especially is you) haven’t ever been a pro wrestling fan. Both of the docs show the real life gritty behind the scenes world of pro wrestling, which I’m sure you too will find fascinating. But my point is this: There is a whole unexplored world behind the scenes, and I hope that someone will write a good film set in that world.
source: HollywoodReporter
October 12th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Hell yeah! I also ran and followed a pretty good wrestling site in french during the late ’90s called ‘Lutte! le Webzine’. At that time, the ’sport’ wad HUGE and lots of fans flew to the internet to get to understand the backstage dealings. Now, the WWE is pretty much a shell of its former self.
I also think there is a lot of interest in wrestling right now, even though it isn’t for the good reasons. The Chris Benoit story (I’m pretty sure everyone has heard of it by now) is slowly gaining more and more attention to the wrestling world media-wise. Now that the sensationnal part of a wrestler killing his wife and son is burned out, people, as well as congress, feel the need to understand the life of wrestlers and the ’sport’ itself. Proof of this : CNN is making a big documentary on the subject.
If someone can bring some interest in a wrestling movie, I guess it really is Darren Aronofsky. He has a very good artistic eye and he tells a story like no other. We’ll see how all of this rolls out.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:52 am
Holy crap — WrestleNet? Dude, I used to visit your site every day. I wrote for Scoops Wrestling back in the day, along with others. I still try to watch wrestling occasionally but it’s beyond terrible, and I’m finding myself following MMA now as much as I ever have wrestling.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:02 am
The filmdrunk dude had a sweet picture for this story.
http://filmdrunk.com/post.phtml?pk=411
I never ran a wrestling site, but one time I wrestled a bear (that’s slang for a hairy gay man, btw).
October 12th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Botter: Yeah, most of my friends have migrated to MMA as well. I use to visit Scoops back in the day as well. When I ran/wrote for WrestleNet, my nickname was “The Slammer”, which now seems really really lame. :P
October 12th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Wow, I definitely remember The Slammer. Did you ever do radio appearances? For some reason, I remember listening to your on some show, but I can’t remember which one it was nor exactly when it was. I do remember The Slammer, though.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Just saying hi ;)
December 31st, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Al, what are you up to these days? I’ve had several people ask me what you’re doing now, and I’ve love to be able to give them a straight answer! :-)
Also, not sure if you know this, but The Rage Board is still active — the board that you helped create back in the old New York Metro days. It’s at http://www.therageboard.com
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 am
Still performing and teaching stand-up / improv comedy. I have a 3yr old son who takes up most of my time and I have a few partnerships in some web based businesses. That ad I have two screenplays waiting for the end of the writer’s strike waiting to make their rounds. Wrestling wise, still talk to some of the guys, but I’m pretty much out of the game. Good to see some old friends!