See A Jacked Zac Efron Unrecognizable For His New Wrestling Film

Zac Efron looks like he has been busy training and pumping iron in this side-by-side comparison of him with the man he is portraying in the upcoming wrestling film, The Iron Claw.

By Chad Langen | Published

The Iron Claw is one of the latest features currently in development from A24, the studio behind critically acclaimed hits like The Whale and Hereditary, and thanks to Zac Efron, the upcoming flick has been making headlines recently after a photo of the actor from the set of the film made its way online. The movie will center around the famous Von Erich wrestling family, and the image, which was posted to Ross and Marshall Von Erich’s Instagram page, showcases Efron’s jaw-dropping physical transformation to portray Kevin Von Erich. The picture was shared with the caption, “Excited about this new project on our family and it really looks like @zacefron is taking this role seriously.”

Ross and Marshall are the sons of Kevin Von Erich, and the recent post to their Instagram page features a side-by-side image of Zac Efron and their father, who the actor plays in the forthcoming film. The High School Musical star looks absolutely jacked in the photo, sporting long hair and a golden tan. Efron is a spitting image of Kevin, with his bulging arms, chiseled torso, and rock-hard pectoral muscles.

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Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron in Baywatch

Zac Efron recently spoke with Men’s Health about bulking up for his role in The Iron Claw, telling the outlet that he took a different approach this time than the training he underwent for Baywatch. He stated that he fell into a state of depression for quite some time after recovering from the brutal training for the 2017 feature, where he starred alongside Dwayne Johnson. He went on to explain that his physique in Baywatch isn’t something he considers to be attainable, and he much prefers to have an extra two to three percent body fat.

It was recently announced that Lily James would be joining Zac Efron in the upcoming movie in an undisclosed role. The Iron Claw will also star Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, Stanley Simons, Jim Gleason, Kevin Anton, and Cazzey Louis Cereghino. Sean Durkin, who directed the 2020 romantic drama The Nest, will helm the feature from a script he penned.

The Iron Claw will center around the fascinating story of the Von Erichs, a dynasty of wrestlers who made an incredible impact on the sport from the 1960s to present day. While Zac Efron has been cast as Kevin Von Erich, Jeremy Allen White is set to portray Kerry Von Erich. Stanely Simons will play Mike Von Erich, Harris Dickinson will portray David Von Erich, and Holt McCallany will star as Fritz Von Erich.

The story behind A24’s upcoming feature is undoubtedly interesting, but unfortunately quite tragic. Five of six brothers in the Von Erich family met their demise under extremely peculiar circumstances between the ages of six and 33. Kevin Von Erich, who Zac Efron portrays in the forthcoming film, is the last surviving brother.

Currently, The Iron Claw is without a release date, but the recent photos of Zac Efron featuring his remarkable transformation have definitely stirred up anticipation for the film’s release. A24 is financing and producing the film alongside Tessa Ross, Derrin Schlesinger, and Harrison Huffman. The movie is being developed by House Productions in association with Access Entertainment and BBC Films.