Kelli Berglund, who plays the heroic champion pro wrestler Crystal Tyler on Netflix's Heels, takes a turn as a villainous wrestler in Queen of the Ring. Written and directed by Ash Avildsen, Queen of the Ring is an upcoming film chronicling the life and career of Mildred Burke (Emily Bett Rickards), the first million-dollar female pro wrestler who was a superstar in the 1940s and 1950s. I was delighted to screen Queen of the Ring at the Newport Beach Film Festival, and it's a riveting and rousing pro wrestling biopic with a stellar cast from top to bottom.
In Heels, Crystal Tyler is the underdog female star of the Duffy Wrestling League (DWL) run by Jack Spade (Stephen Amell). Crystal fights her way up from her role as the valet of Ace Spade (Alexander Ludwig) to a legitimate pro wrestler, spearheading the creation of the DWL's women's division. In Heels season 2, Crystal is elevated to DWL Women's Champion, and Tyler becomes a standout whose star power is coveted by rival promoter Charlie Gully (Mike O'Malley) of Florida Wrestling Dystopia. The ambitious Crystal remains level-headed and admirable, even in the seedy world of regional pro wrestling.
Heels Hero Kelli Berglund Plays A Wrestling Villain In Queen Of The Ring
Berglund Plays Nell Stewart, "The Alabama Assassin"
After wrapping filming of Heels season 2, Kelli Berglund took on another role as a very different pro wrestler. In Queen of the Ring, Berglund was cast as Nell Stewart, one of the key rivals of Mildred Burke. Known as "The Alabama Assassin," Stewart becomes the mistress of promoter Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas), who is married to Burke. Stewart is famed for her Hollywood starlet glamour, and Nell makes a bid for the ladies' championship held by Burke, under Wolfe's guidance.
Queen of the Ring Cast
Character
Emily Bett Rickards
Mildred Burke
Josh Lucas
Billy Wolfe
Kelli Berglund
Nell Stewart
Walton Goggins
Jack Pfefer
Marie Avgeropoulos
Babe Gordon
Francesca Eastwood
Mae Young
Kailey Latimer
June Byers
Deborah Ann Woll
Gladys Gillem
Toni Rossal
Clara Mortensen
Martin Kove
Al Haft
Kelli Berglund's training and the credibility she earned playing Crystal Tyler on Heels translates perfectly into Queen of the Ring. Nell Stewart is meant to have a movie star's beauty, which Berglund brings in spades, but she is also tough as nails in the ring. Crystal is a charismatic high-flyer on Heels, but pro wrestling in the 1950s was a very different style, and Berglund makes Nell instantly believable. Ultimately, Nell breaks it off with Billy Wolfe, and Mildred Burke's climactic in-ring rival is the imposing June Byers (Kailey Latimer, who is the real-life "Brickhouse" Kamille in All Elite Wrestling).
Kelli Burgland’s Crystal Also Plays A Villain In Heels Season 2
Crystal Pretends To Turn On Jack Spade And The DWL
Heels season 2 toys with Crystal Tyler's heroic persona, allowing Kelli Berglund to show new shades of Crystal in the ring and cutting promos on the microphone. Heels season 2 kicks the rivalry between the DWL and Florida Wrestling Dystopia into high gear, as the two leagues work together in an inter-promotional storyline. Crystal turns on Jack Spade and the DWL and joins FWD, and Berglund has a blast bringing a devious side to Crystal. Heels makes no bones that Crystal is a shooting star, and this is due to Kelli Berglund's winning charisma and authenticity, which will hopefully continue if Netflix renews Heels for season 3.
Starz is bringing Heels back for season 2, and the cast of the hit wrestling drama is growing with some incredibly recognizable names and faces.
Queen of the Ring is stacked with fantastic actors, including real life pro wrestlers like Kailey (Kamille) Latimer and Toni (Toni Storm) Rossal, as well as cameos from Dr. Britt Baker of AEW and Trinity (Naomi) Fatu from WWE. Queen of the Ring's female cast led by Emily Bett Rickards are seamlessly convincing as pro wrestlers rising from the mid-west carnivals into the biggest arenas of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Queen of the Ring hits theaters in 2025, and audiences can enjoy how Kelli Berglund turns from Heels' Crystal Tyler into the villainous "Alabama Assassin" Nell Stewart.
Cast Alison Luff , David James Elliott , Alexander Ludwig , Kelli Berglund , Phil Brooks , Allen Maldonado , Melissa LeEllen , Mary McCormack , Stephen Amell , James Harrison
Seasons 2
Writers Michael Waldron , Rachel Alter , Eric Martin
Directors Peter Segal , Jessica Lowrey , Michael Lehmann
Showrunner Mike O' Malley , Michael Waldron
Production Company Lionsgate Television, Paramount Television, LBI Entertainment
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
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English (US) ·