Whatever fans think they know about professional wrestling likely will be forgotten after watching “Lucha Underground.”
The show takes the sport and turns it on its head, with high-flying feats of athleticism narrated with a cinematic sense of storytelling. Its success is due, in large part, to executive producer Mark Burnett, the man behind hit shows like CBS’s long-running “Survivor” and ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
“Lucha Underground” just finished filming for Season 2, which airs Wednesdays on the El Rey Network. Burnett confirmed filming for Season 3 will begin in March and air in January 2017. The El Rey Network was started by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, who directed “From Dusk to Dawn,” “Sin City” and “Machete.”
“ ‘Lucha Underground’ clearly is wrestling but has an extra level of acrobatics. It’s got a really great level of backstory and mystery with the masked wrestler,” Burnett says. “These backstories with these wrestlers are of the historical Aztec Mexican heritage that are fighting in America in East Los Angeles.”
That East Los Angeles location is an old rustic warehouse surrounded by many others like it, all used for shooting action scenes for Hollywood movies. This particular warehouse serves as the setting for “Lucha Underground” and is referred to in the show as “the temple.” It’s a gritty, fight-club environment where the action, plus the excitement of a live audience composed largely of residents from nearby neighborhoods, is captured on eight cameras.
Professional wrestling, including industry leader WWE, functions like a traveling circus occupying arenas worldwide and filming much of their weekly content live. Whereas WWE operates like a wrestling company shooting a TV show, “Lucha Underground” runs like a drama that happens to feature wrestling.
“The backstory and cool vignettes make it feel like you’re in a movie, and then there’s real wrestling in the ring,” Burnett says.
In traditional professional wrestling, “stories” unfold through performers talking smack and foreshadowing upcoming matches to the camera. In “Lucha Underground,” stories are conveyed more through movie scenes, complete with multiple camera angles and accompanying soundtracks.
It’s a new concept developed by Burnett, a man who has had the midas touch as an executive producer. He acknowledges there is luck in what he does, but he also attributes a simple formula to his success.
Plans to leave The Temple, what they plan to do so more can watch at home and Rey Mysterio comments on it—CLICK HERE.
