Jeremy Allen White Playfully Mocks Zac Efron's Dramatic Transformation Into the 'Iron Claw'
Jeremy Allen White jokes about Zac Efron's incredible physical transformation for their movie 'The Iron Claw', finding it amusing
Devin Yalkin/A24
Jeremy Allen White was just as shocked as the rest of the world when he saw costar Zac Efron’s physical transformation for their film The Iron Claw.
At the Los Angeles premiere of the A24 sports drama, White, 32, playfully expressed his initial reaction to Efron's muscular physique. "He's so annoying," White joked during a conversation with Variety at the Monday, December 11 screening. "I had been training for months, lifting, and eating more, and when I saw him, I just thought, 'What's the point? Why even bother?'"
The celebrity also praised Efron, 36, for his leadership on set, calling him the "captain of the ship." "He was a fantastic motivator, both in terms of physical preparation and the emotional and mental work he put in," White stated. "I really admire that guy."
Efron's remarkable physical transformation to portray professional wrestling champion Kevin Von Erich made headlines when photos from the set were released in October 2022. The movie follows the story of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty, with White playing Kevin's brother Kerry Von Erich and Harris Dickinson portraying Kevin and Kerry's brother David Von Erich.
Efron shared with Entertainment Tonight last month that the transformation was shocking at every turn. "I remember Harris and I walking out of hair and makeup, it was the first time we had to wear the full kit, and we were both thinking, 'What the hell are we doing here, man? How did we get into this?'"
Efron praised the final look as "really good" and praised the hair and makeup teams for helping him and his co-stars transform into the Von Erich brothers. He also gave a shout-out to the real-life Kevin, now 66, who "really motivated me to get in shape for this movie."
"The physicality he brought to the ring every single day was really unique. It changed wrestling," Efron added. "I knew that was going to be the hardest [thing] for me to master and get right. So, I put everything I had into it."
The former High School Musical star also went through a significant physical change for the 2017 film Baywatch. He later opened up about the challenges he faced with the rigorous diet and exercise routine required for the role.
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"I began experiencing insomnia and fell into a deep depression for an extended period," he shared with Men’s Health in October 2022. "That experience really took a toll on me. I struggled to find my center again."
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Check out this offer: "Achieving the Baywatch look might not be attainable. It looks fake and CGI'd, and requires powerful diuretics. I don't need to do that."
The Iron Claw hits theaters on Friday, December 22.
