Claressa Shields talks 'spot on' performances from Brian Tyree Henry, Ryan Destiny in biopic 'The Fire Inside'

Boxing superstar Claressa Shields enjoyed seeing Brian Tyree Henry and Ryan Destiny’s performances in her upcoming biopic The Fire Inside. On3 attended a sports roundtable with Shields and asked her what she thought about Henry playing her coach and mentor Jason Crutchfield.

“I think Brian Tyree Henry was spot-on playing Jason Crutchfield,” Shields told On3 and other reporters. “Back when I was a kid, when Jason used to say that we were going to have a movie about our lives one day, I’m just thinking, he’s just talking, but I’m listening to him and I remember asking him, ‘Who would you want to play you?’ And he said, ‘Ice Cube.’ And we were blessed with that. At the beginning, we were blessed with that. But Covid happened and so many other things happened and they were blessed with Brian Tyree Henry. And Jason is just as happy for Brian to play him.”

To change everything, she gave everything. Watch the official trailer for #TheFireInside, based on the incredible true story of Claressa Shields. Only in theaters Christmas Day. pic.twitter.com/OVxcgBd3bg

— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) September 12, 2024

The Fire Inside tells the true story of Shields and her journey to becoming arguably the greatest female boxer in history. Destiny plays the role of Shields who was more than happy with how she portrayed her.

Claressa Shields shares more on ‘The Fire Inside’

“I was very honored,” Shields said. “And then to know that they spent so many years making it, did a great cast, casted Ryan Destiny. And to know that I had watched her act before as a star. I’ve seen her in some movies. So I was like, ‘Okay, another pretty brown Black girl. This is neat.’

The film focuses on how Shields began her boxing career and her journey to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Shields’ success in the Olympics led to her winning multiple professional boxing championships and being ranked the best active female boxer. But the journey of becoming an elite boxer was not easy and neither was getting the movie made.

“The Fire Inside was not easy to get done,” Shields stated. “The opportunity came when I was preparing for my second Olympics, two months before that. I took a year going back and forth over the contract and I was honored. It’s not many Black athletes who get biopics about their lives.”

The Fire Inside will premiere in theatres nationwide on Christmas Day.