Rumble - What We Know So Far

Some of the most inspirational movies ever made are about the competitive world of combat sports. The most successful example is probably the "Rocky" franchise, which has chronicled one man's journey from working-class nobody to boxing superstar and eventual mentor. Other notable examples include "The Fighter" and "Warrior," which take place in the boxing and MMA arenas, respectively. Films of this ilk tend to be about unlikely heroes overcoming the odds, and who doesn't love an underdog story?

With that in mind, it's a wonder why Hollywood hasn't turned to the world of professional wrestling for inspiration on a regular basis. While the success of "The Wrestler" and "Fighting With My Family" prove that the topic of sports entertainment can captivate audiences and do decent business at the box office, filmmakers aren't as drawn to that universe as they are with so-called real sports. That's a shame, since wrestling stories boast similar hallmarks to those other sporting tales of torture and triumph, while simultaneously opening the door for more experimentation and weirdness to take place.

"Rumble," a collaboration between Paramount Animation and WWE Studios, will be the next big release to take place in the world of grapplers. That being said, the movie will approach the subject through an animated, fantastical, and family-friendly lens.

According to Deadline, "Rumble" is currently scheduled to be released on February 18, 2022. The movie will make its debut in theaters before moving to the Paramount+ streaming service 45 days later. That's if everything goes according to plan anyway, as there are extraneous variables that have caused hiccups in the past.

Much like countless other movies that were supposed to hit the big screen over the last year or so, "Rumble" has experienced some delays in its journey to the screen. It was originally slated for a summer release last year, but the COVID-19 situation threw a wrench into those ambitions. The film was then pushed to May of this year, only to be held back again because of the pandemic. With the vaccines now rolling out, the movie release slate will hopefully return to normal in the near future. However, as "Rumble" has shown, no specified release date is a guarantee at the moment.

"Rumble" features a stellar cast of impressive voice and comedic talent, ranging from established Hollywood vets to superstars from the wrestling and sporting world. Will Arnett and Geraldine Viswanathan will portray the film's central pairing, playing a monster and little girl, respectively. Terry Crews, Tony Danza, Fred Melamed, Chris Eubank, Susan Kelechi Watson, Stephen A. Smith, Jimmy Tatro, and Ben Schwartz have also signed up for key roles.

Elsewhere, Joe "Roman Reigns" Anoa'i and Becky Lynch will add some wrestling pedigree to the proceedings, all the while continuing their respective ascents in Hollywood. Both competitors have expressed their interest in starring in more films down the line, so fans can expect this to be one of many featuring the WWE superstars. In an interview with Complex (per Cageside Seats), Anoa'i revealed that he caught the acting bug while working on "Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw" with his cousin, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. While speaking to TMZ (by way of Bleacher Report), Lynch noted that she's been speaking to Johnson and John Cena for advice on how to make the jump from WWE to the big screen. Prior to the pandemic, there were even rumors of her joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Hamish Grieve-directed feature seems set to stick to the tried-and-tested underdog story formula, albeit with a monstrous makeover. Taking place in a world where monsters and humans must co-exist (and often collide), "Rumble" revolves around a little girl, Winnie, who coaches a lovable beast named Steve on the road to wrestling superstardom.

That's easier said and done, though. A sassy undefeated shark-headed monster creature, Tentacular, is the reigning Monster Wrestling champion, and he isn't going down without a fight. Tentacular enjoys the spotlight and adoration of the people far too much, and he's yet to find a challenger who holds a candle to him. Steve, on the other hand, is a slob who's averse to exercising and has a tendency to give up when the going gets tough. The trailer makes it clear that Winnie has her work cut out for her, but she's determined to whip the lazy oaf into shape.