Wrestling fans who also happen to be horror fans have something new to look forward to, presumably in the not-too-distant future. As reported by Deadline, Dept. 9 Studios has wrapped production on Dark Match, a wrestling-themed horror film that will star Chris Jericho. That casting seems perfect, as he’s both a favorite in the world of professional wrestling and a hardcore horror fan. Jericho most recently appeared in this year’s surprise hit Terrifier 2. Though it seems he’s poised for more screen time in this one.
Lowell Dean, of Wolfcop fame, is in the director’s chair for this one. Joining Jericho in the ensemble will be Ayisha Issa (Transplant), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries), Michael Eklund (Van Helsing), and Jonathan Cherry (Final Destination 2). As for the story at hand, the synopsis for the film reads as follows:
“[Dark Match] sees a small-time wrestling company accept a high-paying gig in a backwoods town, only to discover when they arrive that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match.”
In addition to starring, Jericho serves as an executive producer alongside John MacDonald, with Don Depoe, Michael Feehan, Rhonda Baker, and Michael Peterson also on board as producers. As mentioned, the film is already in the can, with principal photography wrapping recently in Edmonton, Canada. Lowell had this to say about it:
“It’s been a blast filming in Edmonton and working every day with such a talented cast and crew. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with Dept.9 Studios and for the producer’s support in bringing Dark Match to life.”
There is no word currently on what the distribution plan is for the film. It’s unclear if this will be a pure VOD play, something that ultimately gets sold to a streaming service, or if it will end up with a theatrical release. As is so often the case these days, it could be any combination of those options, depending on how things shake out. Admittedly, this seems like a lower-budget play, and a wide theatrical release looks somewhat unlikely. But with post-production presumably already well underway, it probably won’t be long before we hear more about this one. Stay tuned.
Dark Match does not yet have a release date set, but look for it to likely arrive sometime in 2023.
