Stephen Merchant’s acclaimed film starring Slow Horses star confirmed to be getting stage musical adaptation

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The popular movie ‘Fighting With My Family,’ directed by Stephen Merchant, is being adapted into a stage musical.

The 2019 movie, featuring Florence Pugh, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and Jack Lowden, tells the real-life story of WWE wrestler Paige (also known as Saraya Knight). It follows her journey from a relatively unknown childhood in Norwich, England, to becoming a major wrestling star.

The upcoming movie, inspired by the true story of a young woman’s journey, follows her as she goes from her hometown of Norwich to the exciting world of American professional wrestling (WWE). Away from her family for the first time, she’s forced to discover who she truly is.

The film was a critical success after its debut at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. It was released worldwide in February of the same year and went on to earn $41.5 million in ticket sales.

Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, Tilted Musicals, Merchant, Kevin Fisher, and Birmingham Hippodrome are working together to create the stage version of the story, with the Hippodrome as the probable location for the performances.

After the announcement, Merchant explained that he envisioned the film as a musical. He described it as the story of a young performer striving for success, set amongst flamboyant characters and intense emotions.

I always treated wrestling matches like elaborate performances, building towards a powerful climax. So, adapting the film for the stage feels like a perfect fit. The creative team has brilliantly captured the story’s funny, raw, and emotional core – it’s both true to the original movie and feels completely new.

Dwayne Johnson shared his excitement about “Fighting With My Family” becoming a stage musical. He believes the story’s heartfelt moments and the energy of wrestling make it a perfect fit for the theater, as wrestling is fundamentally about telling stories and engaging with an audience. He especially enjoyed working with Stephen Merchant on the film and feels his creative work deserves this new adaptation. Johnson is confident the musical will be a hugely enjoyable experience for audiences.

The show will feature a lively collection of songs by Miranda Cooper, a successful songwriter who wrote over 30 top ten hits and numerous number one songs for popular British artists in the 2000s, including Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Pet Shop Boys, Alesha Dixon, and Kylie Minogue.

While specific details are still upcoming, the musical’s development workshops will finish by the end of this year, and it could premiere in 2027.

Authors

Olivia Garrett

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2026-04-22 13:42