ONE Championship Announces Partnership To Film Russell Crowe's ‘The Beast In Me’ MMA Movie

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In an exciting turn of events, ONE Championship has announced that it is entering Hollywood. The promotion will be part of a major MMA action-drama film to be shot in Bangkok in early 2025.

The world's largest martial arts organization has declared an official partnership with Broken Open Pictures ahead of the filming of The Beast In Me, starring Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe, most notable for Gladiator and Cindarella Man, and Daniel MacPherson of Land of Bad fame.

As part of the deal, ONE will feature heavily in the upcoming movie with carefully selected rostered stars expected to appear, as well as ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

ONE Championship's role gets under way on Friday, 24 January, 2025, at a ONE Friday Fights live event inside Bangkok, Thailand's Impact Arena, where the iconic venue will host an MMA fight scene for the movie.

There have been many MMA films in the last decade that have partnered with promotions to capture the realism of fight night, and Sityodtong is excited to put ONE Championship in that wing.

"I am thrilled to be partnering with the star-studded cast and production team behind The Beast In Me," he said.

"I am confident ONE is the best platform to help tell their story of grit, perseverance, and determination. We cannot wait to host their entire team in Bangkok at a ONE Friday Fights fight week in January."

David Frigerio, the Producer and Co-Writer of The Beast In Me, is also ecstatic about the partnership. Crowe mentioned on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that he and Frigerio have admired ONE for creating "heroes," and he is looking forward to getting production underway with the promotion.

"We are excited to be partnering with ONE Championship as we create a film that resonates with fans, celebrating the spirit of competition, resilience, and the pursuit of greatness," Frigerio said.

"With access to ONE's vast network of athletes and events, we are poised to deliver an exhilarating cinematic experience that reflects the true heart of martial arts."

The MMA action-drama's plot sees MacPherson star as an out-of-work former MMA fighter who suffers a tragedy involving his brother. But with the assistance of a veteran trainer portrayed by Crowe, he spurs up the courage to chase his dream of competing in ONE Championship.

The all-star cast will begin production on the anticipated movie later this year. More details on the picture, including an official release date and global distribution partners, will be announced in the future.