Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, Rachel Morrison Explored ‘Fire Inside’ and Outside Boxing Ring – Contenders Los Angeles

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The Fire Inside tells the story of Olympic boxer Clarissa “T-Rex” Shields (Ryan Destiny) and her coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry).

Shields’ accomplishments in the ring are a matter of public record and she was the subject of a documentary. The film, from director Rachel Morrison and a script by Barry Jenkins, focuses on the relationship between Shields and her coach that sports fans never got to see. “This is an inspirational sports movie until it becomes an inspirational life movie,” Morrison said. “The heart of it is the life part.

A lot of it outside the ring is telling his side of the story too.” The film is the first time Henry played a real, living figure like Crutchfield, he said.

Henry said he was also inspired by the fact that Crutchfield moved Shields into his house. RELATED: The 2025 Oscars: Everything We Know So Far About The Nominations, Ceremony, Date & Host “This is a relationship that has been building since she was a child,” Henry said. “That dynamic of what it’s like to rear this woman into one of the strongest fighters, it had to be grounded truly in Ryan and I’s relationship.