SUMMARY
- Chloe Grace Moretz and Lupita Nyong’o will be featured as UFC fighters in the movie Strawweight.
- It has been announced that UFC fighter Rose Namajunas has a special role in the movie.
UFC is the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the world, and it’s not even a competition. The MMA organization has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception more than two decades ago. And the year 2024 will, in due time, prove to be another pivotal year in the growth of the organization.
The UFC is one of the few combat sports organizations that can claim to have reached an absolute global audience. Many factors contribute to the success of the UFC, which include marketing, the quality of fights, the caliber of the fighters on the roster, and the overall entertainment value.
UFC’s status in the sports and entertainment industry is such that many people benefit from its entertainment and brand value. The film industry is the biggest example of this. Over the years, an increasing number of movies have referenced or been based on the UFC or its athletes. Many documentaries and feature films have thus been born and are being made.
Recent examples include Khabib’s upcoming documentary and Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor’s movie ‘Roadhouse’. According to reports from Variety, another movie based on two female UFC fighters is underway. This movie will definitely be added to this list soon.
‘Strawweight’ starring Lupita Nyong’o announced by producers of ‘Extraction’ and ‘Hereditary’
A UFC-based mixed martial arts drama on the lives of two female UFC fighters titled ‘Strawweight’ was recently announced by producers of ‘Extraction’ and ‘Hereditary’. The movie will be starring Lupita Nyong’o and Chloe Grace Moretz in lead roles. The movie follows the paths of two fighters who find themselves facing off against each other inside the cage.
One is a young fighter (Moretz) who discovers her passion for MMA, which changes her life. The other is a former champion (Lupita Nyong’o), who is determined to reclaim her former glory. The movie talks about “respect,” which is what either fighter wants at the end of the day. It is being launched at the European Film Market by WME Independent and CAA Media Finance.
James M. Johnston, known for his work in “The Green Knight” and the upcoming “Mother Mary” for A24, will make his directorial debut in the film, while Paul Harill is the film’s scriptwriter. ‘Strawweight’ will be produced by Larsn Knudsen of Square Peg (known for “Hereditary”), Lowery and Halbrooks, and Patrick Newall (known for “Extraction”).
Lupita Nyong’o and Chloe Grace Moretz are set to play UFC fighters in ‘STRAWWEIGHT.’
Follows two women who find themselves competing against each other – one is a young new fighter while the other is a former champion who is determined to reclaim her title. pic.twitter.com/PKSi67Up0A
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) February 15, 2024
A24 Films announced a few weeks ago that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will be playing the role of Mark Kerr, a former 2-time UFC heavyweight champion, in their upcoming movie titled, “The Smashing Machine.” This makes ‘Strawweight’ the second such film announced by the production house based on the UFC in recent times.
Former UFC champion Rose Namajunas to act as a fight consultant and executive producer
Furthermore, UFC fans can rejoice about the film in advance, as Rose ‘Thug’ Namajunas is also involved in the film. The former two-time women’s strawweight champion of the UFC is reportedly serving as a fight consultant in the movie.
Apart from her role in the filmmaking aspect of the movie, she will also be acting as one of the executive producers of the film. The fan-favorite female MMA fighter holds a professional record of 12-6-0 in MMA. In her 14 UFC appearances, she has nine wins and two title defenses. She currently competes in the flyweight division and is ranked #8 in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Coming off a loss in September 2023, she is scheduled to headline UFC Vegas 89 on March 23, 2024. Rose Namajunas also has a documentary made about her titled “Thug Rose: Mixed Martial Artist,” which was released in 2022. The documentary was directed by Marius A. Markevicius and followed Rose’s journey from her abusive childhood to her rise to UFC gold, not once but twice.