Earlier this summer, Variety reported that Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw” would be theatrically released on December 22nd with no fall festival appearances planned.
Despite its prime awards season release, “The Iron Claw” is currently in post-production and isn’t expected to make the rounds at film festivals.
“The Iron Claw” sounds like the type of film that would have absolutely benefited from a film festival. Durkin is coming off two notable features, especially 2011’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and there’s lots of buzz for this one.
With that being said, it turns out that “The Iron Claw” will indeed screen a whole month and a half in advance, but it won’t be in L.A or NY, rather, it has set up its world premiere on November 8 in Dallas, Texas.
So, A24 has decided to screen the film 45 days before its release date, but to an audience that won’t include trades, major critics, and Oscar bloggers. When will “The Iron Claw” actually be screened for NYC/LA press? Not until the first week of December.
The biographical drama centers around Von Erich family, the brothers of that clam actually started their pro wrestling careers in Dallas. So, this does make sense. It also means the film is ready.
The Von Erich family are expected to appear at the premiere, so will Durkin and the film’s stars, which include Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson.
As far as I know, the film test-screened twice, with many viewers bewildered by the film’s austerely dark approach. Someone compared it to Bennet Miller’s “Foxcatcher”. If you’ve seen Durkin’s last film, “The Nest,” then you kinda know what to expect here.
Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.