Crossface

[John McHenry]

comingsoon.netSRG Films has announced their plans to adapt the Matthew Randazzo book "Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit and the Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry" into a big-screen biopic entitled Crossface. Full details from the official press release are as follows:

"Crossface", a biographical thriller, delves into the pressures WWE superstar Chris Benoit faced throughout his wrestling career as the combination of drug-use, depression, and head trauma became increasingly impossible for him to handle. The true story made headline news in 2007 when Chris murdered his wife and young son before taking his own life.

SRG Films head Dale Alexander Carnegie is producing the film, while William Morris Endeavor (WME) is on board to package the project. Former Weinstein Company staffer, Sarah Coulter, turned in the first draft of the script in mid-October.

"All of us grow up believing that wrestling is fake, but looking at the shocking number of deaths in the industry, it quickly becomes evident that there is nothing fake about the dangers of this sport," Carnegie said. "Chris Benoit has become a poster child for everything that's wrong with professional wrestling and Sarah's terrific script captures his struggles and the many factors that led to the deaths of three people."

Coulter added: "People immediately point to steroids, never thinking about the brain trauma these wrestlers can, and do, incur in their profession, nor do they consider the rigorous schedule that keeps them working even when they shouldn t be. The Benoit story is one that needs to be brought into the light.:

SRG Films, currently in talks with directors and actors, plans to begin filming in the fall of 2012.

Read more: SRG Films Plans Chris Benoit Tale Crossface - ComingSoon.net SRG Films Plans Chris Benoit Tale Crossface - ComingSoon.net

I see this being a very tough movie to film for numerous reasons. The amount of wrestlers that will be allowed in it will be minimal doubt you'll be able to use WCW or WWE, including any of the trademarked names.

Not to mention that the final scene and most of what happened due to "roid rage" is pure speculation.


This is really going to cripple the industry just as they're seemingly getting back their stride.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

This will just lead to more idiots that don't understand wrestling insulting it some more.

 

[PHX]

On one hand it'd be interesting to see this in movie form. On the other hand as pointed out it'll just give non wrestling fans a reason to look down on wrestling but that isn't anything new anyways. Half of the movie will probably only be about that one day.

 

[Andrew]

I'll watch it to see how it is.

 

[The New F'n Show]

If they focus on Brain Trauma it actually could help the business. If it focus on Roid Rage and any other "assumed" situations it will just be fuel for the fire.

 

[PHX]

Pretty much and I kind of expect it to be the latter even thought it should be a mix of both.

 

[Defiant]

Not to mention that the final scene and most of what happened due to "roid rage" is pure speculation.

That seems to be what the film is aiming to rectify.

 

[Troy]

Don't see the point of putting this in a movie as in a way it glorifies what he did. I would rather they just bury it and never refer to it again. Some random movie company trying to replicate this to make a buck is a bad idea and it will most likely be terrible since they can't use any footage and wouldn't be able to refer to most of the companies and wrestlers surrounding the situation.

 

[John McHenry]

You know it could be a valuable learning experience for the guys in the biz or youngsters looking to get into it. It really is all about how the movies made. I've never been a fan of just ignoring what happened like Benoit didn't exist.

 

[Troy]

What I prefer being done are things like what Chris Nowinski has been doing by testing Benoit's brain and seeing how concussions impact on the brain. Some credibile scientific research is a fantastic way to look into the event and try to figure out why it may have happened. Since then WWE have increased the concussion testing so a positive change has been made from this horrible event.

I still don't see how a movie about it could help anyone. I agree that it is about how the movie is made but I don't have high hopes for it.

 

[John McHenry]

Well a movie on the awareness of concussions focusing on that aspect could help. It could also show a side of the industry seldom shown the pressure and toll these guys take on their body. But I have little hopes. Nowiniski really should get more praise for what he does wish he was still on air in some fashion.

 

[The New F'n Show]

As a man who had a severe closed head injury and was told he wouldn't graduate High School (I have a college degree FYI) I love what Nowinski is doing. And I have hope if shown in a positive light this movie could help to, the problem is a double murder suicide can not be shown in a positive light.

 

[Jay]

I would pay for this. It seems like a good project.

 

[The Cork]

In poor taste, IMO.

Its been gone over enough, I doubt this will shed light on any new revelations.

Just a publicity grab.

 

[rcoot93]

it will have to be handlled carefully as it can't damn him and it can't support him, it has to look at all the facts involved and let the viewer choose there opinion about him