Dave Benett/Getty Images/A24
Jeremy Allen White and Zac Efron met for the first time when they had their bodies shaved for A24's real-life wrestling drama, "The Iron Claw," which tells the story of the Von Erich family.
"The Bear" star plays Kerry Von Erich alongside Efron as Kevin Von Erich, and Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich.
The film looks at the family's famed wrestling career, as well as the numerous tragedies they faced.
All three of the leads physically bulked up for their roles, and they also had all their body hair shaved off before filming.
White recalled meeting Efron and Dickinson for the first time in an interview with Variety.
"Our bodies had to be completely shaved. We were strangers at the time," he said. "Now I know them and love them, but at the time, it was like, 'Hi, nice to meet you, and yes, they're shaving off all of our body hair.'"
"They shaved everything," added costar Dickinson.
The actors also had to try on the skimpy wrestling outfits that the Von Erichs wore in the 1980s, which White said spurred them on to get in shape for their roles.
He said: "It was always smaller, always shorter. It was never, 'Cover up their skin.' I don't think any of us were confident in those first fittings. We were like, 'We have a lot of work to do.'"
All three stars worked out significantly for the film, but White said he didn't want to stand near Efron while filming because the actor's larger physique made him look smaller.
"I joke about it but it's true — I didn't want to stand close to him while shooting the movie because it would make me look my size," White said.
He added: "But it's hard because we play brothers. I do have to be around him. Although I tried to make Harris stand next to him most of the time."
