The Wrestler is a 2008
sports drama film directed by
Darren Aronofsky, written by
Robert D. Siegel and starring
Mickey Rourke,
Marisa Tomei and
Evan Rachel Wood. Production began in January 2008 and
Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired rights to distribute the film in the U.S.;
it was released in a limited capacity on December 17, 2008 and was released nationwide on January 23, 2009. It was released on
DVD and
Blu-ray Disc on April 21, 2009 in the United States. It was released in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2009.
Aronofsky considers The Wrestler to be a companion piece to his 2010 film,
Black Swan, as both films feature a character with a demanding art.