Sports films or TV shows have never just been that, they are so much more. They contain stories of perseverance, adversity, losses and family ties. Starzplay original series Heels, however, is set to be all this and more.
Written and created by executive producer Michael Waldron (Loki, upcoming Marvel film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), Heels follows the story two brothers as they fight to be the best of the best, and will do anything to get to the top.
Heels is a story about the men and women who wish to follow their dreams and enter the brutal world of wrestling, leaving their small town behind.
The series is set in a close-knit community in Georgia, and follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as Jack Spade (Stephen Amell) and his younger brother Ace (Alexander Ludwig) continue their rivalry, as they fight one another over the legacy of their late father.
The upcoming drama also stars Alison Luff as Staci Spade, Jack’s wife, who must deal with the pressure of being a wrestler’s partner as more and more stress is added to her life, and more demands are placed upon her family.
Kelli Berglund plays Crystal Tyler in this new drama series, Ace’s tenacious and talented valet and love interest. She may not be the main focus, but the trailer shows her to steal the stage once or twice.
Amell may be best-known for his role as Oliver Queen in the Arrow series, as well as some of the surrounding DC shows; Ludwig’s iconic role was as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games. Both actors have been somewhat tied to franchises, but maybe now is their chance to gain credit for more serious roles.
The trailer is an emotional and anger-fueled journey that follows the Spade brothers in their chaotic ways to win the title. Their father’s death has impacted them in an intense way, and it seems neither brother will give up their dreams, not even to watch their own brother succeed.
Heels challenges the idea of family, support, love, and also the idea that women can be wrestlers too. Berglund’s character Crystal is shown to be a strong and capable fighter, even taking out a guy who poses a threat to the Spade brothers in a very impressive way.
In the ring, somebody must play the good guy, the ‘face’, and somebody must play their nemesis, the ‘heel’. But, in the real world, those characters can be hard to live up to — or hard to leave behind…
We can only wonder if Jack and Ace will reconcile their rage and decide on a truce and, if not, who will win the fight of brother versus brother?
Heels will premier on Starzplay on August 15th, 2021.
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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