Zack Snyder Swaps Superheroes for UFC: Director to Helm New MMA Drama 'Brawler'
Snyder’s transition signals a fresh direction in his filmmaking career.
Zack Snyder is temporarily shifting gears from mystical superheroes to real-life fighters. Yes, the renowned director is set to make a film about a UFC fighter, marking his first collaboration in this genre and the very first cinematic adaptation of a mixed martial artist's story promoted by UFC itself.
As reported by Variety, Brawler is a new feature about an L.A. man who rises through the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Snyder, who will co-write and produce the film, is teaming up with Dana White’s UFC, as well as His Excellency Turki Alashikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia and owner of The Ring boxing magazine.
"I’ve been a fan of Zack’s work for years, his unique style — from his iconic action sequences to his sweeping visuals and intensely emotional storytelling — coupled with his humanized portrayal of deeply-flawed characters is singular," Alashikh said in a statement. "I couldn’t think of a better person to partner with to bring the UFC to the big screen. The Ring Magazine, with its 103-year legacy, will support to ensure the project’s success."
It’s worth mentioning that other movie adaptations about MMA fighters have been made before, and probably amongst the most famous are Warrior, led by Tom Hardy, and Never Back Down, with Sean Faris in the lead.
