Kurt Angle, the famed Olympic gold medalist and professional wrestling icon, is set to bring his remarkable life story to the silver screen. During an appearance on Chris Jericho’s podcast, Talk Is Jericho, Angle disclosed exciting details about his upcoming biographical film, which will focus primarily on his pre-WWE life as an amateur wrestler.
The 1996 Olympic champion has been regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, with significant contributions to WWE and TNA during his career. According to Angle, the film will be split broadly across two projects: the first will highlight his Olympic experiences, and the second will focus on his professional wrestling career post-Olympics. "I doveinto this movie. The directors are Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms. They’re really talented directors," Angle stated. The Nelms brothers have personal wrestling backgrounds, which Angle believes will contribute authentically to the storytelling.
Angle shares the venture isn't just about the spotlight on his wrestling fame; it's expected to offer viewers a look at the pressures and challenges he faced leading to his Olympic triumph. He emphasizes, "This movie's only about my Olympics story, not my WWE story. There’re gonna be actually two movies, ‘Angle 1’ and ‘Angle 2’... It was just too much to put in one movie.”
The star is currently scouting for investors, asserting it won’t be difficult to find support for the film. He also revealed he is involved heavily with the directors, indicating he wants the film to reflect his real experiences accurately.
Among the most intriguing aspects of his film's casting is the suggestion of Michael Keaton stepping up to portray John du Pont, the notorious multi-millionaire involved with Angle's Olympic saga. Jon Bernthal, who is not only Angle's nephew but also married to his niece, is poised to play Angle's father—a move Angle finds both thrilling and meaningful. He gleefully revealed these casting plans during the podcast, stating, "We have in mind Michael Keaton to play John du Pont... Jon Bernthal, my nephew, is gonna play my father.”
The titular role of Kurt Angle himself is currently going to Canadian actor Gabe LaBelle, recognized for his role in the movie Saturday Night. Angle expressed confidence but noted, "The thing is, he needs to put a little more size on his body, but I don’t think that'll be a problem for him."
Filming is expected to begin sometime around late spring 2025. Angle has also mentioned he’s eager to see how the film develops as it will be his first time enjoying the action from behind the camera. He described the feeling as akin to having the “Rocky-type” allure mixed with elements from films like The Fighter and Iron Claw.
He is set to be significantly involved throughout the production process, indicating he has closely followed the script’s evolution, which he has described as nearly complete. Reflecting on the importance of the story he wishes to narrate, he stated, "So, for the first time, I’m going to be on the opposite side of the camera... I can’t wait to bring this to the world. I think it’s going to be a great story.”
Kurt Angle's narrative is compelling—not just for wrestling aficionados but also for anyone interested in resilience and the pursuit of greatness under pressure. His story encapsulates overcoming adversity, illustrated vividly through his history not just as wrestling royalty but also as Olympic gold medalist. Many have fought to categorize him solely as a wrestler, but Angle himself is determined to shine the light on all aspects of his athletic sagas.
Beyond his cinematic venture, Angle recently highlighted the career achievements he's proud of but feels have been overshadowed due to his extended time spent with TNA. “I always get, ‘You know, Kurt Angle would have been the best of all time if he would have stuck with the WWE...' but I had a lot of growth during my TNA years,” he explained. This assertion shows Angle's dedication to not only his personal legacy but also to the recognition of all facets of his career.
While Angle remains closely linked with the WWE community, maintaining positive relationships with many, his focus remains clear: to tell his story authentically and with the involvement of those who can give it the depth it deserves. His films are poised to be both enlightening and entertaining, paving the way for future storytelling about athletes' lives on screen.