One of the problems with movies about pro-wrestling is they rarely know how to make it as intriguing as the actual profession itself. In part, this is due to the level of secrecy that traditionally surrounded the business, deliberately nurtured in part to make some fans believe they’re witnessing a genuine competition, but also to cover up talent payment and compensation. Darren Aronofsky‘s The Wrestler was the rare drama that got it right, but typically the best wrestling movies are documentaries, like Beyond the Mat or Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows.
A biopic of WWE head honcho Vince McMahon, however, could be a fascinating tale. Not only is he the guy who made pro-wrestling the national pop-culture behemoth it is today, but he has also consistently presented himself on-camera as a thoroughly rotten human being. He says he’s playing a caricature of the kinds of executives he used to hate; those in the business who dislike him might claim he’s just being himself. Nonetheless, with the Hollywood Reporter today announcing that a biopic is in the works at TriStar, endorsed by McMahon and coproduced by WWE Studios’ Michael Luisi (sources close to Nerdist have confirmed the story), we have to wonder: how “warts and all” is it going to be? McMahon loves to promote his product, but he has no compunction about humiliating himself if it makes for good TV; this is, after all, a guy who has been showered in sewage, thrown from a cage, and had his head shaved by Donald Trump.
The movie is currently titled Pandemonium, and we have to wonder who they could possibly get to star. If it were about the Vince of today, I’d unhesitatingly say Harrison Ford has the necessary growly authority, but ’80s Vince? Can Eddie Redmayne bulk up in time? Is WWE going to try to push Shane McMahon as a possible star? Would John Cena be this meta? Andrew Lincoln might be an interesting longshot if they can catch him between killing walkers.
McMahon certainly has a great life story. Here’s hoping he lets it all be told.
Who would you cast as Vince? As Hulk Hogan? As Dwayne Johnson? Share your thoughts in our comments.
Image:WWE
