Chef didn’t do enough crunches.
Jeremy Allen White felt good about his physique leading up to playing wrestler Kerry Von Erich in “The Iron Claw” — that is, until he reunited with co-star Zac Efron on set to kick off production.
“He’s so annoying,” the “Bear” actor, 32, told Variety Monday at the LA premiere of the film.
“I had been training for months, lifting and doing this and doing that and eating more, and I showed up, and I saw him, and I’m like, ‘What is this even for? Why do I even try?’ ” he continued on the red carpet.
Efron, 36, plays White’s onscreen brother Kevin Von Erich in the drama, which depicts how the siblings spent the majority of their careers in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where they won multiple individual and tag team titles. His character rose to fame in the 1980s.
Jeremy Allen White in LA on Dec. 11.
White and Zac Efron at the “Iron Claw” LA premiere. WireImageHours before the premiere, White supported the “High School Musical” star at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony alongside Miles Teller.
“He was a great motivator as kind of the captain of this ship doing this thing,” the “Shameless” star told Variety. “He was a great motivator as kind of like his preparation physically. All the preparation he did emotionally and mentally. I look up to that guy.”
Last month, Efron opened up about his wild transformation for the A24 biopic in an interview with Men’s Health.
Efron and White at Efron’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony Dec. 11. AFP via Getty Images
Efron is joined by friends, and actors Miles Teller and White at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. AFP via Getty Images“I started intermittent fasting just after I stopped being vegan. My body wasn’t processing the vegetables in the right way,” he told the publication.
“So, I decided to stop it and try something new,” he added. “Intermittent fasting has been really helpful with that.”
The video sit-down sparked reactions at the time, as Efron’s face appeared larger making him nearly unrecognizable. In September 2022, however, he addressed rumors that he’s had plastic surgery during an interview with People.
Efron in “The Iron Claw.” A24
A24At the time, he said the muscles in his face and jaw enlarged after he broke his jaw in 2013. He claimed: “They just got really, really big.”
“The Iron Claw” also stars Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Grady Wilson, Valentine Newcomer, Holt McCallany, Scott Innes, Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Stanley Simons.
