Sebastian Stan reveals he’d like to play Ric Flair in a biopic. Stan is well-known to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Bucky Barnes. He’s also starred in the films Ricki and the Flash, The Martian, and I, Tonya. Going forward, however, the actor has a particular sports icon he’d like to play.
Regarded by many as the greatest wrestler of all time, Flair has won the top titles in virtually every promotion he’s worked for. Recognizable for his swagger and unforgettable matches with Sting, Shawn Michaels, and others, Flair is retired but still active as a performer in WWE outside the squared circle. In new comments, Stan elaborated on why he wants to bring Flair’s infamous stable, The Four Horsemen, to the big screen.
Speaking with Collider to promote his new movie, the romance drama, Monday, Stan answered a written question from actor Paul Walter Hauser. After sharing the screen with Stan in I, Tonya, Hauser wanted to know what project they’d work on next. While he had two worthwhile options to choose from, Stan was fairly adamant about wanting to play Flair in a biopic. He also approved the idea of Hauser starring as fellow Four Horsemen, Arn Anderson. You can read Stan’s quote below:
That’s it, man. We got to do that Ric Flair/Anderon biopic. You know, by the way, did you ever… you have to have interviewed [Hauser] at some point, right? […] He’s so funny. I mean, he’s such a big wrestling fan, you know, and I was a big wrestling fan too growing up. Like, I love WWF and stuff. And we both have a kip-up. So, maybe Ric Flair. I’ll do it in a second if they let me. I mean, pretty soon, I’ll be eligible, I guess.
Stan is a notable fan of wrestling, having performed his impression of Flair publicly in the past. And he’s clearly enthused about the prospect of recreating The Four Horsemen with Hauser. Beyond his own personal affinity for the sport, it’s easy to see why actors would want to top line a wrestling biopic. There’s something to the outlandish world of wrestling, filled with high drama and psychical sacrifice, that clearly would be fun for a lot of performers to explore. And, in the case of Stan and Flair specifically, that’s doubly true. Flair’s loud wrestling attires and even louder personality would allow audiences to see a more playful side to Stan.
Although he’s an accomplished talent, with a diverse list of credits to his name, he’s well-known for portraying the relatively measured Bucky or the moody Carter on Gossip Girl. If he had the chance to play Flair, who is famously one of the most charismatic grapplers of all time, it would be a portrayal that lined up well with Stan’s generally energetic public demeanor.
Projects centered on wrestling have been on an upswing in recent years. GLOW was a critical darling and cult favorite for Netflix, with its cancellation disappointing many subscribers. Heels, starring Stephen Amell, is likewise a highly-anticipated upcoming series. On the big screen, Chris Hemsworth’s turn as Hulk Hogan is garnering plenty of attention well ahead of its release. And, more generally, the competition between AEW and WWE has led to a renewed interest in weekly wrestling shows. Given these conditions, and particularly if the Hogan biopic proves to be a hit, a Ric Flair follow-up with Sebastian Stan might not be far behind.
Source: Collider