This year marks the tenth anniversary of Gavin O’Connor’s “Warrior,” a film that seems to grow in respect among moviegoers with each year that passes since its initial release. While the original feature an impressive cast of actors—including both Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton on the verge of breakout careers—the feature was not an immediate success. But in a recent interview with The Playlist, O’Connor shared that “Warrior” may see a second life as a television series that expands on the themes of the original feature.
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Earlier this month, O’Connor joined Mike DeAngelo on The Playlist Podcast to discuss the production and lasting cultural impact of “Warrior.” It was during this conversation that he announced a new series in the works. “It has the spirit of the movie – it’s dealing with social issues that are important to me. ‘Warrior’ took [an] American working-class reeling from the one-two punch of war and recession,” O’Connor explained. “I’m taking my same rage and anger than I’m feeling today about social issues – whether it’s poverty or incarceration or addiction, mental health – and I’m infusing that inside new characters.”
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O’Connor describes the show as being about four characters – two men, two women – who are competing in an upcoming Sparta MMA tournament. Furthermore, the untitled “Warrior” series is set to move beyond the confines of the American middle class, pulling in a Muslim character from Paris and a fighter from Ireland (in addition to two American fighters).
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O’Connor also confirmed one casting decision, with MMA fighter Daniel Cormier taking a leading role in his quartet of fighters. Cormier is a former Olympian and a decorated MMA fighter, and O’Connor refers to him as “one of the great ambassadors of the sport and one of the greatest fighters ever.” While Cormier has previously appeared as himself in both video games and original UFC content, this will mark his first foray into acting as a post-fighting career.
