Ready to Rumble (2000)

Faced with the task of creating a movie that would appeal to a wide audience of wrestling fans and non-wresting fans alike, the filmmakers sought the advice and support of World Championship Wrestling, whose WCW Monday Nitro and Thunder cable shows attract millions of fans each week. WCW provided not only technical support but according to producer Bobby Newmyer. "they gave us the courage to portray wrestling as it really is. Our challenge was to maintain the thrills and pageantry of the wrestling world and WCW was invaluable in that aspect."

For the filmmakers, the key to the success of bringing "Ready To Rumble" to life was the casting of David Arquette, Scott Caan and Oliver Plad. "We were looking for that all-elusive chemistry and Scott, David and Oliver just seemed to have it," says producer Newmyer. "They had that magic together."

"David was perfect for the role of Gordie and I knew he would create a great character," says Robbins. "I had worked with Scott and knew he was a really innovative, funny and fresh actor. When I read the part of Sean I immediately thought of Scott."

For Arquette, a self-proclaimed "wrestling freak," working with his favorite wrestlers was "a dream come true. I'm a little starstruck by a lot of them. They're all really great guys." Arquette adds, joking: "I'm a little frightened of Sid Vicious; Diamond Dallas Page - I look out for the diamond cutter. I don't want him to put the smack-down on me. They're all really great guys; Ijust don't want to get speared by Goldberg. I say my line wrong and I jump on his line or something and he spears me. It's not really conducive to a healthy acting relationship. I'm there for him; he doesn't have to spear me.

Arquette is quick to add that he is in "awe" of them: "Everything's a lot harder than you think it is -- the ring, the ropes, the mat. They are really skilled professionals and I have the utmost respect for what they do."

Arquette was likewise thrilled to be working with director Robbins: "I've been so impressed with Brian. He's one of the most innovative and talented young directors that I've worked with. He keeps the story true and the characters real, which is so important. This movie has lived up to my wildest dreams and I'm honored to be able to work with such great actors and the amazing wrestlers, and, of course, with Brian."

Casting the role of Jimmy King, the flawed hero who falls from grace, was more of a challenge for director Robbins. "Oliver Platt wasn't the first actor we thought of," confesses Robbins. I always considered him an intellectual actor and I just couldn't imagine him as a wrestler."

Believing he could create the larger than life character of Jimmy King, Platt arranged a meeting with Robbins and immediately impressed him by doing what Robbins describes as "this whole wrestling persona, a Southern Elvis thing that worked wonderfully."

"Oliver is the only actor I've ever worked with whom I literally can't look at when I'm off camera because I don't want to screw him up by laughing in his face," says Scott Caan. "He's just hysterical. Everything he does kills me."

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