Why Don't WWE Studios Make Wrestler Film Biopics?
Would WWE's airbrushed hagiographies be a good thing?
With news emerging over the past few days of an André the Giant biopic based on Lion Forge's 'Closer to Heaven' comic series in the works, the immediate question that springs to mind is: should there be more wrestling biopics? And furthermore, with their vast, almost exhaustive wrestling library, would it be in WWE's interest to produce them? Would it be in our interests if they didn't?
Given the sort of dross we usually see from WWE Studios, producing a measured, compelling story based on one of their past (or current) superstars' fascinating lives might not be such a bad idea, especially as a vehicle with which to sell the Network.
The potential of such films is evident. Sporting biopics of recent years such as the superb James Hunt/ Nikki Lauda rivalry drama Rush, and Brian Clough retrospective The Damned United, both met with critical and commercial acclaim, whilst the emotionally charged documentary Senna was an almost perfect template for the sort of film WWE could produce with their extensive resources.
However, though the company have all the means, are they the safest hands for wrestling biopics? Senna was so enthralling because it presented a subject of such raw emotional weight with complete, unfiltered honesty. Therein lies the problem with any potential WWE big-screen bio.
It's not hard to imagine that any retrospective film written in Stamford would describe WWE's preferred version of history, either because of an unwillingness to confront many of the difficult truths of the industry, or through a desire to lionise their own brand and superstars. Whilst highly revisionist or blatantly inaccurate approaches in biographical movies by no means indicate they will be bad - take The Last King of Scotland for example - they do severely undermine their legitimacy.
You just know a WWE-spinned John Cena film is more likely to resemble Sepp Blatter hagiography United Passions in its breadth of nonsense than Forrest Whitaker's powerful portrayal of the Ugandan dictator.
Some of WWE's Network specials focusing on a single superstar - in particular Hideo Itami's road to WrestleMania 31and the deeply affecting Warrior eulogy, The Ultimate Legend - are testament to the company's ability to produce mature, absorbing documentaries about their stars. Furthermore, they are just the sort of exclusive content the Network should be selling itself on; a full length feature would likely prove an even bigger draw. But as with anything the company presents, they would have to be taken with a huge grain of salt.
Maybe even an entire salt shaker.
It's a difficult dichotomy: WWE have all the archival footage to substantiate for example, a Steve Austin biopic, but also all the political incentive to mask certain more unsavoury aspects of his personal life. An independently produced flick around the same subject could present an honest portrayal, but would struggle without the co-operation of WWE, in terms of both documentary footage and the company's approval.
The André movie may be something of an exception; fondness for the giant is such that few film-makers would be willing to present anything but a sentimental account of his colourful yet tragically short life. As such, it's easy to understand why WWE has not stepped in the way of the film's production. It is however equally easy to understand why we've yet to see any attempts at, for example, a Chris Benoit movie.
The Benoit tragedy is the sort that is usually ripe for movie adaptation, taste notwithstanding. The fact is that wrestling's most intriguing tales are ones WWE are not prepared to tell themselves, but equally ones that would need the company's resources and blessing to do them justice. Hence the dilemma.
What do you think? Would it be a good move for WWE to start producing biopics for the Network, or even full cinematic release? Or should they be left in the hands of independent studios as with the André flick? In the case of either, which wrestler's life story would you most like to see make the move to the big screen?