Ash Avildsen, son of 'Rocky' director John G. Avildsen, helms 'Queen of the Ring,' an overly earnest biopic about trailblazing wrestler Mildred Burke.

The actor and writer/director tell the story of the first million dollar female athlete in history. Emily Bett Rickards and Ash Avildsen on Bringing Wrestling Pioneer Mildred Burke to Life in Queen of

Josh Lucas, Francesca Eastwood and Deborah Ann Wohl co-star in an arch and inspiring film about athlete Mildred Burke.

The same can’t be said about the big screen. With scattered exceptions – “ . . . All the Marbles” (1981), “Fighting with My Family” (2019), “Racket Girls” (1951), and “Below the Belt” (1980), which features an extended cameo by then-retired wrestler Mildred Burke as a trainer — there’s generally been a dearth of films featuring women wrestlers.

Emily Bett Rickards knew very little about professional wrestling before signing on to play one of its most important female trailblazers, Mildred Burke, in the biopic Queen of the Ring. But after immersing herself in its history and transforming her body for the role,

Queen of the Ring uses the story of Mildred Burke to expertly explore women's pro wrestling in a time when they weren't allowed in the sport.