Zack Snyder to Direct New UFC Film ‘Brawler’

LOS ANGELES, CA — Filmmaker Zack Snyder has officially signed on to direct “Brawler,” a feature film centered around a Los Angeles man who climbs the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The project, which Snyder will also co-write and produce, partners him with UFC president Dana White and His Excellency Turki Alashikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia.

Alashikh expressed his admiration for Snyder’s work in a statement: “I’ve been a fan of Zack’s work for years. His unique style — from his iconic action sequences to his sweeping visuals and intensely emotional storytelling — coupled with his humanized portrayal of deeply flawed characters is singular. I couldn’t think of a better person to partner with to bring the UFC to the big screen.”

The film marks Snyder’s first exploration into the world of mixed martial arts, wherein he aims to portray the struggles and triumphs of an aspiring UFC champion. “Behind every great fighter is the story of how they got there,” Snyder said. “UFC is the world leader in combat sports and I’m honored to be partnering with them to tell this incredible story.”

Snyder’s experience includes directing high-profile films such as “Man of Steel” and “Justice League.” This film will feature co-writers Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, with producers including Snyder, Deborah Snyder, and Wesley Coller from their Stone Quarry production company. Executive producers on the project will include Alashikh, Hatten, Johnstad, and UFC chief content officer Craig Borsari.

According to Dana White, the collaboration reflects a shared vision. “His Excellency Turki Alashikh and Zack Snyder have a shared vision to create a film about UFC. They are both very passionate about this project and I look forward to seeing it come to life,” White said.

The UFC, established in 1993, has staged over 700 events and recently merged with WWE to become a publicly traded entity under the stock symbol “TKO.” In 2023, it collaborated with Amazon MGM to produce a remake of “Road House,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a former MMA fighter.

As Snyder develops “Brawler,” he is also working on an untitled feature for Netflix that will focus on the Los Angeles Police Department. This upcoming film follows Snyder’s previous works for Netflix, including “Army of the Dead” and the sci-fi epic “Rebel Moon.”