Zack Snyder has signed on to direct “Brawler,” a new feature about a L.A. man who rises in the world of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The filmmaker, who will also co-write and produce, is teaming with Dana White’s UFC for the film, as well as His Excellency Turki Alashikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia and owner of boxing magazine The Ring.
“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,” Alashikh said in a statement. “I couldn’t think of a better person to partner with to bring the UFC to the big screen. The Ring Magazine, with its 103-year legacy, will support to ensure the project’s success.”
“His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Zack Snyder have a shared vision to create a film about UFC,” said White, CEO of UFC. “They are both very passionate about this project to show fans what it takes to become a UFC champion. It’s an incredibly ambitious project and I look forward to seeing it come to life.”
Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad will also serve as co-writers. Producers alongside Zack Snyder include Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller for their banner Stone Quarry. Alashikh, Johnstad and Hatten are executive producers, along with Craig Borsari, chief content officer of UFC.
“Behind every great fighter is the story of how they got there,” said Snyder. “UFC is the world leader in combat sports and I’m honored to be partnering with them to tell this incredible story.”
As the UFC project takes shape, Snyder remains in development on an untitled feature at Netflix, which will focus on the Los Angeles Police Department. The director has directed three other films for the streamer: the zombie action ensemble piece “Army of the Dead” and the mega-budget sci-fi duology “Rebel Moon.” Other credits include the DC Comics films “Man of Steel,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Justice League.”
Since its inception in 1993, UFC has put on more than 700 MMA events. In 2023, the company merged with professional wrestling org WWE to form a publicly traded company under the stock symbol “TKO,” overseen by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. UFC recently leant its branding to Amazon MGM’s “Road House” remake, which released in March 2024 and starred Jake Gyllenhaal as a former MMA fighter.
White has headed UFC since 2001, steering its growth into a major sports league. In 2023, he was filmed slapping his wife at a nightclub in Mexico. He apologized for the incident after the video made headlines.
Alalshikh is a member of the Saudi Royal Court. He became the country’s chairman of General Entertainment Authority in 2018 after first serving as the chairman of General Sports Authority. During his tenure, he has served as a major organizer for the boxing industry in Saudi Arabia. He acquired The Ring magazine in 2024. He has also written a horror movie, “The Cello,” released in 2023.
Snyder is represented by CAA; Sloan, Offer Weber & Dern and ID PR.
