The number of current and former WWE superstars breaking into Hollywood is arguably growing by the day, as evidenced by the latest ones transitioning into the movie industry.
According to Fightful Select (subscription required but recommended), Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan have been cast in a wrestling-based movie about Mildred Burke. The film is based on the book “Queen of the Ring,” focusing on Burke’s life, career and marriage. Filming begins in June in Louisville, Kentucky.
Flair will portray June Byars, while Morgan will portray Clara Mortensen. Emily Bett Rickards as Burke, Josh Lucas as Billy Wolfe, and Marie Avgeropoulous as Babe Gordon round out the main cast.
Earlier this month, Jim Ross said on his podcast that he will work behind the scenes on the film.
Despite the National Wrestling Alliance’s ban on women competing, Burke paved the way for women’s wrestling in the 20th century and was a pioneer in intergender wrestling. In 2016, the WWE Hall of Fame inducted Burke as part of its legacy wing in recognition of her trailblazing role in wrestling.
Flair recently expressed her desire to emulate the success of John Cena, Batista, The Rock and other wrestlers, including her father Ric Flair, who have found crossover success in the entertainment industry. She started late, but success is feasible.
This movie also marks Morgan’s first foray onto the big screen. However, it comes as she suffered a legitimate injury earlier this month in a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship that could sideline her for a while. WWE subsequently stripped Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez of the titles.
Flair and Morgan will look to follow up on wrestler-headlined films that have dominated the spring box office, including John Cena in “Fast X” and Batista in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Their achievements are high, but breaking into the movie business is step one.