Stephen Merchant will direct his own screenplay when he helms Film 4”s Fighting with My Family, a feature film due to shoot in Los Angeles and London later this month.

The comedy-drama is inspired by the Channel 4 British documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family, which is based on the true story of WWE Superstar Paige and her family of professional wrestlers, which includes reformed gangster Ricky.

Merchant is among the executive producers on the project too along with Dwayne ‘The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia of Seven Bucks Productions, Kevin Misher of Misher Films and WWE Studios president Michael Luisi. Co-financier Film4 has developed the project from inception.

Johnson will take a role in the film which stars Florence Pugh as Paige and Jack Lowden as her brother Jack.
Merchant said of the film: “When Dwayne sent me the documentary, I didn”t think I”d be interested in a story about wrestling.

“Until I realised this is not really about wrestling at all – it”s about a young woman, her family and their struggles, which are funny, sad, tough, tender and ultimately inspiring. And just happen to involve people in spandex throwing each other about.

“I love that it”s a true story about a working class girl who, against the odds, climbed to the very top of her unusual profession. And as with Rocky and boxing, even if you don”t like her sport, you”ll love her journey.”

Stephen Merchant photo via Getty Images Ent/WireImage/Mike Marsland.