A feature film based on the life of WWE Hall of Famer Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts is in development, but according to his close friend ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page, the project is facing significant hurdles in the creative process. Roberts’ life, marked by immense success in the ring and personal struggles, was previously the subject of the 2015 documentary, The Resurrection of Jake the Snake, which chronicled his journey to sobriety with the help of DDP.
The Writing Challenge
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Page shared that multiple writers have attempted to craft a screenplay for the biopic, but none have successfully captured the specific story of redemption that is central to Roberts’ later life. DDP explained that while the writing itself has been high-quality, it has missed the emotional core of the story that was featured in the documentary, which is what the producers are aiming to portray.
Page elaborated on the specific difficulty the writers have faced in adapting the story. “We’ve had a couple of guys come on and they’ve tried to write what it was, but they did a version, the writing was great. I mean, really great, but it didn’t capture what they wanted it to be, meaning the resurrection,” Page said.
The Difficulty of Getting a Movie Made
DDP also spoke about the realities of film production, noting that even with a great story, getting a movie made is an arduous process that he is hesitant to speak about publicly until it is a sure thing. “And that came out, I mean, it’s been going on for years. I don’t really talk about it because it’s positive bullshit. It’s positive, but it’s bullshit until it happens….How hard it is to get something made, bro. People don’t realize how hard it is.”
The project joins a list of recent wrestling biopics, including A24’s The Iron Claw about the Von Erich family and Queen of The Ring about Mildred Burke. Roberts remains under contract with AEW, where he has served as a manager for talents like Lance Archer and The Righteous. His on-screen appearances have become more infrequent. Roberts also co-hosts a podcast, The Snake Pit with Jake Roberts, where he shares stories from his decades-long career.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
