‘Fighting With My Family’ to be adapted into a stage musical

NEW MUSICAL OF CULT BRITISH WRESTLING FILM ‘FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY’ IN DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCED BY TILTED MUSICALS, IN COLLABORATION WITH STEPHEN MERCHANT, SEVEN BUCKS PRODUCTIONS AND MISHER FILMS.

It has been announced today that Tilted Musicals, in collaboration with Seven Bucks Productions (co-founded by Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia), Stephen Merchant, Kevin Misher and Birmingham Hippodrome, are developing Stephen Merchant’s 2019 biopic film Fighting With My Family into a musical. With book and lyrics by Olivier award-winning playwright Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!), Fighting With My Family will feature a bold new soundtrack by Brit Award-winning songwriter Miranda Cooper (music and lyrics) and Ivor Novello-nominated Nick Coler (music).

Stephen Merchant said: “When we were making the film, I always thought of it like a musical: a young woman from the ‘chorus line’ fighting to get her big break, surrounded by theatrical, larger-than-life characters and huge sweeping emotions. I approached each wrestling match like it was a different dance number, building to a big show-stopping finale. Seeing the film reimagined for the stage feels like the natural next step. The team have captured the humour, grit and heart of the story in a way that feels both faithful to the film and completely fresh.”

Dwayne Johnson said: “Fighting With My Family feels exceptionally well-suited for the stage. It’s packed with personal emotion expressed through the dynamic world of wrestling, which has always been about storytelling and connecting with a live audience. Working with Stephen Merchant on the film was a truly special experience, and his brilliant work deserves this new act. As it comes to life musically, I have no doubt it will be an absolute blast for theatergoers.” 

This new high-energy musical inspired by the beloved film and the extraordinary true story will follow Saraya Knight (aka Paige), a goth outsider who is raised in a chaotic but loving British wrestling dynasty. When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity takes her from Norwich to America’s glitzy WWE, she must confront who she really is without her family in her corner. This heartfelt coming-of-age story will feature a vibrant songbook by British songwriter Miranda Cooper who shaped the sound of 2000s British pop music, penning over 30 top ten singles and 4 #1’s for major pop acts including Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Pet Shop Boys, Alesha Dixon and Kylie Minogue.

Closed workshops will take place this year before a public presentation in 2027, with further details to be announced in due course.