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Producers have confirmed that the 2019 film *Fighting With My Family*, which features Florence Pugh and Dwayne Johnson, is being transformed into a stage musical. The movie tells the true story of Saraya Knight, a British professional wrestler known as Paige, as she climbs the ranks to join the WWE. Johnson’s production company is collaborating on the musical adaptation, with the actor expressing that the story is especially well-suited to a theatrical setting.
The film, directed by Stephen Merchant, was inspired by a 2012 Channel 4 documentary, *The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family*, which documented the lives of Saraya and her wrestling family—her father Patrick, known as “Rowdy” Ricky Knight, her mother Julia, who performs under several names including Sweet Saraya, and her brother. Johnson, who also produced the film, called working with Merchant a “truly special experience” and praised the director’s work as deserving of a new life on stage.
The stage version is being developed by Tilted Musicals, a company headed by Miranda Cooper, the songwriter known for her work with Girls Aloud, and producer Sam Hodges. Cooper highlighted the appeal of wrestling’s theatricality, explaining that the musical’s themes extend far beyond wrestling itself. She described the story as centered on family, community, and belonging, featuring vibrant and unconventional characters bound by deep love. Jon Brittain will write the adaptation, with Cooper and Nick Coler composing the soundtrack, both notable for their work with the songwriting collective Xenomania.
Musical compositions for the show aim to capture the essence of the Knight family’s dynamic personality, with Cooper describing Saraya as a bold and complex outsider whose flaws ultimately make her unique. While influenced initially by Britpop to reflect the family’s British roots, the music will embrace broader British genres, such as drum and bass, drawing from artists like The Chemical Brothers and Propellerheads. Set for workshops later this year, the production team hopes to bring the musical to audiences by 2027, approaching it as an original work designed to engage both wrestling fans and new viewers alike. Johnson remains confident the show will be “an absolute blast for theatergoers,” highlighting wrestling’s rich tradition of storytelling and its emotional connection with live audiences
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