Last Friday, it was reported that screenwriter Robert Siegel’s indie drama The Wrestler is in development at Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures, and now it appears that Aronofsky will direct as well.
The film centers on Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a 1980s-era star pro wrestler who has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he has a heart attack during a small-time match, a doctor tells him he could die if he fights again.
In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis the Ayatollah proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.
The Wrestler is targeted for a January 7 start. Aronofsky is also attached to direct The Fighter with Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt, which will presumably start after “Wrestler” wraps.
