Dwayne Johnson wrestling film to be made into stage musical

Producers have revealed that the 2019 film *Fighting With My Family*, featuring Florence Pugh and Dwayne Johnson, will be transformed into a stage musical. The story centers on Saraya Knight, a British pro wrestler known as Paige, and her journey to WWE. Johnson, who co-produces the musical, praised the narrative, calling it “exceptionally well suited for the stage.” He also highlighted his collaboration with director Stephen Merchant as a “truly special experience,” stating that Merchant’s “brilliant work deserves this new act.”

The wrestling dynasty behind the film

The movie draws from a 2012 Channel 4 documentary of the same name, following Knight and her family, who are all professional wrestlers. Her father, Patrick, performs under the ring name “Rowdy” Ricky Knight, while her mother, Julia, uses various stage names, including Sweet Saraya—a name she passed to her daughter. The family’s dynamic, marked by chaos and affection, forms the heart of the story.

From screen to stage: A new creative vision

The stage adaptation is spearheaded by Tilted Musicals, led by Miranda Cooper and Sam Hodges. Cooper emphasized that the musical will appeal to more than just wrestling enthusiasts, noting its themes of family, community, and belonging. She described the characters as “off-the-wall” yet deeply loving, adding that the show will highlight their “complicated, flawed” nature. The project is co-written by Jon Brittain, with Cooper and Nick Coler composing the soundtrack. Their work with Xenomania, known for songs with Sugababes, Kylie Minogue, and Pet Shop Boys, brings a fresh musical perspective.

Thematic and stylistic evolution

Cooper explained that the music blends diverse influences, moving beyond the “pub-rock guitar” style common in US wrestling. Early drafts leaned on Britpop, reflecting the family’s British roots, but the sound has since expanded to include Chemical Brothers, Propellerheads, and drum and bass. “We want a soundtrack that captures the uniqueness of these characters,” she said. Merchant, who envisioned the film as a musical from the start, likened the wrestling matches to “different dance numbers” leading to a “show-stopping finale.”

WWE’s future and the musical’s potential

The musical’s development coincides with WWE’s new era under Endeavor’s ownership since 2023. Hodges told BBC News that Merchant was “incredibly enthused from the beginning,” sharing scripts and personal videos to enrich the adaptation. With the wrestling world now part of a larger entertainment machine, the stage version aims to elevate the story’s emotional and theatrical depth. As Cooper put it, “Seeing the film reimagined for the stage feels like the natural next step.”

“Wrestling is so theatrical, you’ve got your heroes and villains, it’s all about storytelling and everyone is playing a heightened version of themselves in the ring,” said Merchant.

“Centre stage we have Saraya, who is this mouthy, irreverent outsider, complicated, flawed, and it’s her journey of realising all those attributes are the things that make her really special,” Cooper added.