The Los Angeles premiere of The Fire Inside was held on Wednesday, December 4, at the prestigious DGA Theater.
The Fire Inside is a powerful biographical drama about Olympic boxing champion Claressa Shields. The talented Ryan Destiny transforms into Shields, embodying her grit and determination to help tell the inspiring true story of one of history’s greatest athletes.
The film showcases the awe-inspiring journey of Shields, a high school junior from Flint, Michigan, who defied immense odds to rewrite the history of boxing. Shields became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport, not once but twice, triumphing at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
Her talent and determination earned her the title of the greatest female boxer of all time, with an undefeated professional record and multiple world championships across weight classes. The film captures not only her meteoric rise in the ring, guided by her tough-love coach Jason Crutchfield, played by Brian Tyree Henry, but also her battles outside of it—navigating personal struggles, systemic challenges, and the weight of carrying her city’s hopes on her shoulders.
The premiere was attended by Destiny and Henry, director Rachel Morrison, writer and producer Barry Jenkins, and the real-life subjects of the film, Claressa Shields and Jason Crutchfield.
Guests included Michael B. Jordan, Ayo Edebiri, Daniel Kaluuya, Chloe Bailey, Diana Nyad, Kiki Layne, Serena Page, and Kordell Beckham.
Check out the photos for the premiere below.
The Fire Inside premieres only in theaters on Christmas Day.
