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Based on the incredible true story of the first female boxer to break all the rules, this is the explosive 1st trailer for Claressa “T-Rex” Shields’ new biopic The Fire Inside.
In working class Michigan, Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny) discovers an amazing talent for boxing as a teenager. Despite her family’s struggles, her family and coach Jason (Brian Tyree Henry) rally behind her as she sets her sight on the Olympics.
As Shields blazes through every obstacle in her path, eventually winning her 1st gold medal and gaining recognition from big names, she grows frustrated at the barriers society places on female boxers, getting lower paydays and being overly sexualized to appeal to the public. As Shields devotes her life to winning her 2nd gold medal, she has to decide whether or not losing herself in the process will be worth it.
The Fire Inside (2024) – source: Amazon MGM Studios
This trailer feels like King Richard, but better. A better representation of working-class obstacles, a more fiery portrayal of a young woman hungry for success, and a story that doesn’t get bogged down by its own star power (sorry Will Smith, but that story did not need to be all about you).
Newcomer Ryan Destiny puts in the performance of a lifetime as Shields, battling life’s hurdles with an engaging personality that makes her feel 10x more well-rounded than the “independent female leads” Hollywood routinely churns out. The supporting cast doesn’t disappoint, particularly Henry, who disappears into the role of a cheeky paternal mentor.
Like most biopics, the trailer winds up deifying its subject more than it intends to. But, to be fair, the film pitches itself as a story of sheer will pushing through barriers. While I would love more “shades of gray”, one can’t deny the sheer adrenaline rush watching Shields prove her naysayers wrong over and over and over in the trailer. I’ll be watching this one on opening night.
Directed by Rachel Morrison, The Fire Inside will release on Amazon Prime on December 25, 2024. The film stars Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry in the lead roles.
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