The very best of bodybuilding and Generation Iron in 2023
2023 has continued the trend of extreme highs and extreme lows for most of the world – and bodybuilding is no exception. In the sport of bodybuilding, 2023 held a lot of firsts. A first Mr. Olympia win for Derek Lunsford, for example. But it also had painful lows, such as the last minute injury for Nick Walker causing him to miss his shot at the title at Mr. Olympia.
For Generation Iron, three new films were released bringing a wide variety of perspectives within bodybuilding and fitness. DRIVEN: The Tony Pearson Story showed the complex life of an arguably underrepresented legend. GASPARI chronicled the life story of the first ever Arnold Classic champion. And Bradley Martyn: The Influencer looked behind the screen of social media to explore the truth about fitness superstar Bradley Martyn.
To celebrate a brand new year, Generation Iron is reflecting back at the biggest moments of 2023 as well as a look at what’s to come in the new year. You can check out our recap sizzle video above.
DRIVEN: The Tony Pearson Story
Generation Iron’s first big release of the year was the documentary feature, DRIVEN: The Tony Pearson Story. Directed by Andrew Menjivar, the film takes an extremely intimate look into an often overlooked legend from bodybuilding in the 1980s – Tony Pearson.
Known as the “Michael Jackson of Bodybuilding” both for his uncanny resemblance to the pop star and his incredible posing routines – Tony Pearson’s life story is one of the most interesting, and harrowing, within the sport.
Behind Tony Pearson’s remarkable success lay an extraordinary journey, far from your typical bodybuilding rise to fame. The driving force behind his unwavering determination can be traced back to a traumatic childhood marked by abuse at the hands of his guardian, Auntie Bettie. It’s that very drive that led him into the world of bodybuilding as an escape from his abusive aunt.
Driven: The Tony Pearson Story is a documentary that unveils a powerful narrative, featuring poignant interviews with Pearson himself and captivating footage from his storied bodybuilding career. It sheds light on the enduring impact of his abusive upbringing and his unyielding resilience in the face of adversity.
You can watch DRIVEN: The Tony Pearson Story on all major digital platforms below:
Stream or download DRIVEN: The Tony Pearson Story on digital.
GASPARI
The life story of bodybuilding legend and entreprenuer, Rich Gaspari, was also the subject of feature documentary from Generation Iron. Directed by Frank Zarrillo, GASPARI chronicles the entire life story of Rich – from his childhood determination, his Arnold Classic victory, and through to his rise as a leader in the sports supplement space.
Rich Gaspari is often credited as being the first ever bodybuilder to bring striated muscle to the glutes – taking the evolution of bodybuilding up to the next level. He was also an early leader in bringing bodybuilder expertise to the supplement industry with his brand Gaspari Nutrition.
Rich Gaspari is an iconic bodybuilder and the first ever to win the Arnold Classic title. He also revolutionized the sports nutrition supplement industry by being one of the first bodybuilders to start his own supplement brand. Now in his 60s, he has been through peaks and valleys in both his bodybuilding career, business endeavors, and personal life. Gaspari is the first authorized biography chronicling the life story of Rich Gaspari from past to present – while also giving insight into the heart and soul of one of fitness’ biggest icons.
Rich Gaspari, a name synonymous with excellence in bodybuilding, has left an indelible mark on the fitness world. With a remarkable career spanning decades, Gaspari’s dedication, discipline, and passion have made him an icon for aspiring bodybuilders worldwide.
You can watch GASPARI on all major digital platforms below:
Bradley Martyn: The Influencer
Bradley Martyn has long been one of the “most viral” bodybuilding personalities in the sport. But this clout isn’t just follows and likes on social media. Bradley transformed his popularity into an entire brand and business. He owns and operates his own gym, ZOOCULTURE, as well as his own clothing company, RAWGEAR. In addition to this – he now produces and hosts his own podcast called RAWTALK.
But despite his constant presence online, who is the real man behind the screen? Behind the muscle? Bradley Martyn: The Influencer, directed by Vlad Yudin, explores the intimate inner workings of the titanic and near-impossible to know bodybuilder.
In addition to this, Generation Iron’s cameras happened upon a truly spontaneous story while filming. During the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradley Martyn found himself forced into closing his ZOOCULTURE gym due to state mandates. Ultimately, Bradley decided to keep his gym open – starting a legal battle between himself and the City of Los Angeles that nearly cost him his freedom and his livelihood.
Generation Iron chronicles the entire behind-the-scenes on location drama of this fight. A fight for freedom in the United States when so much of that appears to be at risk in an increasingly divided nation.
You can watch Bradley Martyn: The Influencer on all major digital platforms below:
Stream or download Bradley Martyn: The Influencer on digital.
What To Expect In 2024 & Beyond
Generation Iron always aims to persue bigger and more expansive projects year over year – and that much is certainly true as we head into 2024. Generation Iron is actively in production on over 10 feature film projects that expect to release on digital in 2024 and beyond.
This includes the highly anticipated documentary starring Chris Bumstead – providing an expansive look at the life of the beloved Classic Physique champion alongside his team, or more like a family, of coach Matt Jansen and entrepreneur Dom Iacovone.
Generation Iron is also full steam ahead on a feature documentary titled, Robby Robinson’s Blueprint, which focuses on the life story of the legendary bodybuilder Robby Robinson. The film splits it’s time between the past and the present as we peel back the layers of an often mysterious but impactful bodybuilder – who is still incredibly jacked at over 80 years old.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg of feature documentaries. Fans can expect other announcements incoming including biography films on Cristy “Code Red” Nickel, competitive eating champion James Webb, mysterious and controversial international bodybuilding influencer David Michigan – and a new upcoming documentary chronicling the life story of Eddie Hall.
Wrap Up
With a new year comes the beginning of a new chapter for all of us here at Generation Iron – and perhaps a new chapter for bodybuilding as a whole. Only time will tell what surprises we have in store but we are excited to take the bodybuilding world on a journey towards bigger and better things in 2024. Check out our “best of” video showcasing our biggest moments in 2023 and a sneak preview of what is to come in 2024 above!
