The Iron Claw director Sean Durkin recently revealed that one specific family member was left out of the film due to things getting too tragic in the story.
Speaking to The Los Angeles Times, Durkin revealed that Chris Von Erich — the youngest Von Erich who died by suicide at the age of 21 in 1993 — was originally in the film right up until production began. However, Durkin felt that the film was already too sad and that the inclusion of Chris would be “one more tragedy that the film couldn’t really withstand.”
“There was a repetition to it, and it was one more tragedy that the film couldn’t really withstand,” said Durkin. “I honestly don’t know if it would have gotten made.”
Chris Von Erich was the smallest of his brothers, standing at just 5-foot 5-inches tall, and suffering from things like asthma and a brittle bone condition that made wrestling hard. Still, Chris did pursue wrestling alongside the rest of his family, but began experiencing depression and battling drug issues following the death of Mike Von Erich in 1987.
“Chris was in the script for five years,” Durkin said, while noting that “on a human level,” cutting Chris was “an impossible choice” that he fought against years, but ended up having to do.
What is The Iron Claw?
“The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s,” reads the synopsis. “Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.”
The Iron Claw is written and directed by Durkin. The film stars Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich, Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich, Maxwell Jacob Friedman as Lance Von Erich, Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich, Maura Tierny as Doris Von Erich, Lily James as Pam Adkisson, Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich, Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Ric Flair, and more.
The film is produced by Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Angus Lamont from House Productions, Durkin, and A24. Executive producers are Derrin Schlesinger and Harrison Huffman for House Productions, Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen from Access Entertainment, and Eva Yates from BBC Film.
