Professional wrestler Trinity Fatu is set to star in the upcoming Queen of the Ring film based on Pulitzer Prize winner Jeff Leen’s book. Fatu currently wrestles under the IMPACT Wrestling banner as Trinity.
The film is based on the life of women’s wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke who is one of the most influential women in professional wrestling. Burke held held the World Women’s Championship (later recognized as the lineal NWA World Women’s Championship) for 16 years from 1937 to 1954. Burke dominated one of the most masculine sports in the United States, wrestling both men and women. After being ostracized from wrestling by her ex husband and the NWA, she took a short visit to Japan with her newly formed World Women’s Wrestling Association (WWWA). The trip would turn out to be incredibly successful, changing the trajectory of women’s wrestling in Japan forever.
After retiring from in ring competition, Burke trained generations of women at her wrestling school in California, an important figurehead in wrestling history, but hardly is she ever in discussion for her contributions to the industry. Emily Bett Rickards (Arrow, We Need to Talk) will play the iconic Burke with Ford v. Ferrari star Josh Lucas set to play Burke’s husband, Billy Wolfe.
Queen of the Ring also stars Gavin Casalegno as the teenage version of Burke’s son, Joe, Deborah Ann Woll plays Gladys Gillem, Francesca Eastwood will play Mae Young, Marie Avegeropoulos will play Leona “Babe” Gordon, Kelli Berglund stars as Nell Stewart, Martin Kove plays Al Haft, and Walton Goggins will play New York wrestling promoter Jack Pfefer. Additionally, Fightful Select previously reported that both Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan are set to star in the film, playing June Byers and Clara Mortensen, respectively.
