Dwayne Johnson’s 2019 film Fighting With My Family is being adapted into a stage musical, with the project led by Tilted Musicals in collaboration with Seven Bucks Productions and Birmingham Hippodrome.
The adaptation will feature book and lyrics by Olivier Award-winning playwright Jon Brittain, known for Rotterdam and Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!, while the soundtrack is being composed by Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler of the songwriting team Xenomania, which has written hits for Sugababes, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys and Girls Aloud.
Stephen Merchant, who directed and wrote the original film, confirmed he had always envisioned the story as a musical, describing each wrestling match as a dance number building toward a show-stopping finale.
Johnson, who appeared as himself in the film and served as a producer through Seven Bucks Productions, said the project feels “exceptionally well-suited for the stage” due to its emotional core and connection with live audiences.
The film follows the true story of WWE superstar Paige, real name Saraya Bevis, portrayed by Florence Pugh, and her family’s involvement in professional wrestling, including her father Patrick Knight, known in the ring as “Rowdy” Ricky Knight, and her mother Julia, who performed under names including Sweet Saraya.
The story originated from a 2012 Channel 4 documentary titled The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family, which chronicled the Knight family’s efforts to succeed in amateur wrestling from their base in Norfolk.
Miranda Cooper of Tilted Musicals emphasized that the musical aims to appeal beyond wrestling fans, citing the universal themes of family, community and belonging that emerged from both the documentary and the film.
She noted that while the characters are “off-the-wall,” the production is grounded in genuine affection and storytelling, qualities she believes translate naturally to theatrical performance.
The project marks the first musical developed and produced by Tilted Musicals, a company formed by Cooper and UK producer-director Sam Hodges.
Johnson is set to next appear in the live-action Moana and Jumanji 3, continuing his recent focus on family-oriented blockbusters.
What the adaptation adds to the original film’s legacy
The stage version expands the narrative beyond the biopic format by integrating original music that reflects the emotional beats of Paige’s journey, rather than relying solely on dialogue, and performance.
By framing wrestling matches as choreographed sequences, the musical leans into the performative nature of the sport, aligning with Merchant’s original vision of treating each bout as a distinct dance number.
This approach allows the production to highlight the theatricality inherent in wrestling while shifting focus to the personal sacrifices and familial dynamics that drove Paige’s career.
The involvement of Xenomania brings a pop sensibility to the score, potentially broadening the show’s appeal to audiences familiar with the songwriting team’s function in mainstream British pop.
Why the Knight family story resonates beyond wrestling
Sources consistently highlight that the Knight family’s appeal lies not in their in-ring achievements alone, but in their close-knit, working-class dynamic and their commitment to community-based wrestling in Norfolk.
The documentary and film portrayed their struggles to gain recognition in a industry dominated by larger promotions, emphasizing grassroots effort over celebrity.
Cooper told BBC News that the family’s authenticity and warmth were central to the story’s impact, describing them as “kind of off-the-wall characters, but there’s so much love.”
This emphasis on relatability and emotional honesty is what the adaptation seeks to preserve, translating intimate family moments into song rather than spectacle.
The musical thus positions itself not as a celebration of wrestling excess, but as a human story about ambition, identity and the support systems that make success possible.
Who is adapting Fighting With My Family into a stage musical?
The adaptation is being developed by Tilted Musicals in collaboration with Seven Bucks Productions, Stephen Merchant, Kevin Misher and Birmingham Hippodrome, with book and lyrics by Jon Brittain and music by Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler.
What is the connection between the film and the original Channel 4 documentary?
The 2019 film Fighting With My Family was directly inspired by the 2012 Channel 4 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family, which followed the Knight family’s real-life efforts to break into professional wrestling.
Why do the creators believe the story works as a musical?
Creators cite the theatrical nature of wrestling, its reliance on storytelling and character, and the emotional depth of the family’s journey as key reasons the story translates well to the stage, with Merchant noting he always envisioned each match as a dance number building to a finale.
