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In an interview with Variety, Mark Shapiro mentioned that The Smashing Machine should ignite a new era of high profile wrestling films.
"We have a treasure trove of stories that are just waiting to be mined, and we’re bringing them more to the forefront and taking them to directors and writers that might have an interest" He noted that it is “no longer a call-out business” and that, over the last two years, "we now have more folks knocking on the door."
He said Smashing Machine brings more credibility to WWE and grows its fanbase.
"For years, we’ve looked at it as scripted drama. It’s fun, it’s family and it’s made-up characters. But the truth is, these are real big time athletes who suffer alone right from the same struggles and physical challenges as everyday athletes, and at the same time prevail and conquer and win as often as everyday athletes."
"Our goal isn’t just to serve sports audiences. It’s to broaden our audiences into casual fans and into viewers who have an interest in emotional, moving, humanistic stories. So you’re getting someone who walks away from that film emotionally moved, who then maybe pauses and says, ‘I want to go to a WWE event,’ or ‘I want to watch a WWE event.’ Without that film, they may never have been triggered to do that."
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