The untold story of Tony Pearson is making its way to the big screen
Friday October 6th 2023 marks the day that the story of Tony Pearson, also known as Michael Jackson of bodybuilding, is going to appear in a documentary called Driven: The Tony Pearson Story. The film will be brought to you by none other than Generation Iron Fitness & Bodybuilding Network. It is a story that has long been kept in the shadows, and not many people know who he is, nor how much he actually contributed to the sport of bodybuilding.
What is the Tony Pearson Story?
The story of Tony Pearson revolves around a boy who has dreams of becoming famous one day, and that he did. The boy is Tony Pearson, and this documentary will be used as a biography for him. It will showcase his life, and despite the obstacles he faced in life, whether that be unfortunate circumstances in his everyday life or challenges with the IFBB, Tony overcame them and made a statement.
Driven: The Tony Pearson Story will use Tony’s own voice for narration, while dissecting each chapter of his life. As you can see in the trailer, there are clips of him going through workouts, and then he takes us through his childhood and bodybuilding journey. However, Pearson had some challenging early years, especially after moving from his hometown to Los Angeles at the age of 19, with the goal of being a pro bodybuilder in mind. Check out the trailer below.
Pearson became a professional bodybuilder, and was guided by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it was not all the glitz and glamor you may think. It was as though the whole world had turned on him when he started to rise in popularity. Joe Weider and the IFBB league as a whole seemed to want him out of the sport, not giving him a fighting chance. However, he continued to fight, and many people ask why he tried so hard. But, that will be answered in the film.
Tony Pearson’s Contribution to Bodybuilding
Tony Pearson may not have been a Mr. Olympia, but he did not exit the bodybuilding stage without winning a few high profile shows. He won Mr. America, amongst other titles that you will hear all about in the film. However, besides winning, he also was someone who pioneered couples posing, after posing on stage with Lisa Lyons.
He was one of the first to do this, and paved the way for others to follow suit.
Where Can I Watch?
You can watch Driven: The Tony Pearson Story right on Vimeo, Amazon, or Google Play. It is streaming on these platforms starting Friday, October 6th, 2023.
Wrap Up
Overall, Tony Pearson may not be a name you have heard before when it comes to bodybuilding, but he certainly left an impact on the sport. Though he went through some tough trials and tribulations that would have caused any average person to give up, Tony Pearson pushed through and made it known he was not leaving bodybuilding without a fight. And that he did.
Will you be watching Driven: The Tony Pearson Story when it releases?
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
