Gavin Casalegno is entering his wrestling era.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” actor has joined director Ash Avildsen’s “Queen of the Ring,” his reps confirmed to PvNew. “Queen of the Ring” follows the story of WWE Hall of Fame-inducted wrestler Mildred Burke, a world champion who broke glass ceilings throughout the course of her career from the 1930s through the 1950s.
Casalegno will play the teenage version of Joe, Burke’s son. Avildsen (“Paradise City,” “American Satan”) will direct based on a script he penned. The film is inspired by 2010’s “The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend,” a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Jeff Leen. The book which walks through Burke’s story as the longest-reigning female wrestling champion in American history.
Jim Ross is executive producing the film. Aimee Schoof and Isen Robbins of Intrinsic Value Films and TV serve as producers on the film.
Following his roles on “Vampire Diaries,” “Walker” and Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah,” Casalegno starred as Jeremiah Fisher in Amazon’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” the coming-of-age television show based on Jenny Han’s bestselling young adult novels. The adolescent drama, which also stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney and Sean Kaufman, earned a Season 2 renewal before it premiered and landed in the top slot on the streaming service when it debuted in June 2022. Three episodes of Season 2 will launch on July 14, followed by weekly episode releases until the season finale on Aug. 18.
Casalegno is repped by UTA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, Skrzyniarz & Mallean and Vision PR.
