Anna Hirai Starts Training for Mayu Iwatani Biopic

Anna Hirai Starts Training for Mayu Iwatani Biopic

By: J. Curbelo

In 2020, IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani released a memoir book written by herself. The autobiography detailed Iwatani’s struggles with depression and apathy until finding professional wrestling and adjusting to it until becoming the icon she is today.

After Bushiroad president Takaaki Kidani read it, he became enthusiastic about the possibility of turning the book into an actual film. It was a matter of time before a casting call was announced in 2022 for a “Runaway Wrestler” movie, with several women auditioning and even engaging in campaigns to be voted by fans.

Among these women were STARDOM ring announcer Yurie Kozakai, STARS’ Momo Kohgo and actress Anna Hirai. All of the Mayu hopefuls were presented on September 11’s STARDOM show in Yokohama Budokan. On October 28th, it was decided that Anna Hirai will play Mayu Iwatani, and Yurie Kozakai -who had nailed a nearly-indistinguishable Mayu cosplay- will play a yet-to-be-decided role.

The Mayu Iwatani biopic "Runaway Wrestler" has it's leading lady! Anna Hirai won the audition and will play the role of the Stardom Icon Mayu Iwatani! https://t.co/3sAIiEzQ03

— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) October 28, 2022

A founding member of defunct J-Pop group “Tokyo Cheer-Cheer Party”, Hirai is no stranger to the world of entertainment. The actress was also affiliated with “Genius Theater Group Baka-bakka”, led by renowned seiyuu Subaru Kimura. After the recent dissolution of Baka-bakka, Hirai continues to forge her career in several dramatic projects, and has now landed the role of joshi puroresu’s one icon.

With the Iwatani biopic project being radio silent in the last few months, we finally have some update thanks to Hirai herself, who posted photos of her training at the STARDOM dojo. This resolves some doubts from fans that Mayu would do stunt-work in the movie, as it seems the actress will take care of everything her character has to do. Hirai also attended STARDOM’s Allstar Grand Queendom show, and had ecstatic comments about the event.

映画 #家出レスラー

プロレスのトレーニングも始まり、撮影再開に向けて日々闘いです。

毎日、岩谷選手の入場曲を爆音で聴きながらトレーニングやランニングしてるよ🔥

リングの上に立たせていただけることに、練習させていただけることに感謝して、全てをかけて頑張ります。#STARDOM #スターダム pic.twitter.com/cVMd0e2UYy

— 平井杏奈🍚 (@anna_hirai_da) May 10, 2023

Hirai promises to give training her best so that she can continue filming. For this purpose, she finds inspiration in Iwatani’s entrance music.