Kelli Berglund Joins Stephen Amell In Starz Wrestling Drama ‘Heels’
Starz wrestling drama ‘Heels‘ has found their female lead as Kelli Berglund (‘Animal Kingdom’, ‘Now Apocalypse’) joins the cast opposite Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig.
‘Heels’ follows the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small-town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals war over their late father’s legacy.
In the ring of pro-wrestling, there is always a villain and a hero. Stephen Amell (‘Arrow’) plays Jack Spade, the older brother, and charismatic villain, or “heel”, of the DWA. However, in the real world, he’s its hard-working owner, a husband and father trying to make ends meet while fighting to realize his impossible dreams. He has the mind of an artist in the body of a warrior and a Steve Jobs-ian need for perfection… and for control. He says he’ll do whatever it takes to build the DWA into an empire. Will he go so far as to risk his marriage or his relationship with his brother?
Alexander Ludwig (‘Vikings’) plays Ace, the younger brother. He is a beloved hero and star of the Duffy Wrestling Association, but things less clear cut in the real world, where he struggles to reconcile his town idol status with his insecurities and demons. He’s brash, cocky and self-destructive, yet so damn charming and good-looking that you can almost forgive him. If he can keep it together, he’ll have a ticket out of Duffy and to the big time. But that’s a big if…
Berglund joins the cast as Crystal, a 20-year-old wrestler’s valet who yearns to transform this traditional role and compete as a wrestler. A rural-town girl of limited financial means, she’s an incredible athlete who just needs an opportunity to prove she belongs in the ring, and she’ll do whatever it takes to make that dream come true.
This is the second show Berglund has appearing in for Starz, having previously appeared in comedy ‘Now Apocalypse’. She also played the role of Olivia in TNT’s ‘Animal Kingdom’, but is probably best known for her work on Disney XD series ‘Lab Rats’.
The series also stars actress/musician Alison Luff (‘Waitress’), who plays Staci Spade, the reluctant young matriarch of a family-owned Southern wrestling promotion. Having married into the world of independent wrestling, she soon learns that she has to contend with the emotional stakes her in-laws have invested in their wrestling goals and the demands it puts on her family.
‘Heels’ is written by Michael Waldron, the man who has recently been tapped to pen the pilot of Marvel’s much-anticipated ‘Loki’ series. Mike O’Malley (‘Survivor’s Remorse’, ‘Shameless US’) is set as showrunner and the series will be produced by Lionsgate TV in association with Paramount TV.
There is no news yet on when ‘Heels‘ will premiere on Starz in the US, and no UK broadcaster at the moment, but we’ll let you know when we hear more.
