Heels: Mick Foley Offers Stephen Amell Series “Bang-Bang!” Blessing

With production underway on the Stephen Amell (Arrow) and Alexander Ludwig (Vikings)-starring STARZ series Heels, Amell’s been working overtime to keep fans updated on how things are going as well as teasing what they can expect. From previews of Amell wearing the crimson mask and learning that CM Punk had joined the production to learning what happens when Amell falls asleep while everyone else on set is still awake, those are just some of the things the actor/executive producer has been sharing. But on a personal fanboy level, Amell may have outdone himself on Wednesday when he posted an image from inside the Duffy Wrestling League’s (DWL) arena of himself with director Peter Segal (Shameless)… and Mick Foley!

Yes, that’s right. Actor, author, comedian, retired professional wrestler, and color commentator Mick Foley– otherwise known as Cactus Jack, Mankind, and Dude Love. You also might know him as one-half of what many people consider to be one of the greatest spectacles in wrestling history: 1998’s “Hell in a Cell” match against The Undertaker. We don’t know if he was just there for a visit and offer a “Bang! Bang!” as a blessing or if he might be doing some consulting work. Either way, the DWL looks to be the one wrestling company everyone’s interested in signing with- as you’re about to see:

In Heels, the focus is on the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small-town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals — Jack Spade (Amell) and Ace Spade (Ludwig) — war over their late father’s legacy. In the ring, somebody must play the good guy and somebody must play their nemesis, the heel. But in the real world, those characters can be hard to live up to — or hard to leave behind.

In the ring, Amell’s Jack Spade is the charismatic villain, or heel, of the Duffy Wrestling League (DWL). In the real world, he’s its hard-working owner, a husband, and father trying to make ends meet while fighting to realize his impossible dreams. He has the mind of an artist in the body of a warrior, and a Steve Jobs-ian need for perfection — and for control. He says he’ll do whatever it takes to build the DWL into an empire. Will he go so far as to risk his marriage – or his relationship with his brother, Ace?

Ludwig’s Ace Spade is the beloved hero and star of the DWL. Things are more difficult in the real world, where he struggles to reconcile his town idol status with his insecurities and demons. He’s brash, cocky, and self-destructive — yet so damn charming and good-looking that you can almost forgive him. If he can keep it together, he’ll have a ticket out of Duffy and to the big time. But that’s a big if…

Written by Michael Waldron (Loki), directed by Peter Segal (Shameless), and with Mike O’Malley serving as showrunner, the series also stars Chris Bauer (For All Mankind), Kelli Berglund (Animal Kingdom), Broadway actress/musician Alison Luff, Allen Maldonado (The Last O.G.), James Harrison (S.W.A.T.), Mary McCormack (The Kids Are Alright), David James Elliott (JAG), and Joel Murray (Mad Men). Waldron and O’Malley are also set to executive produce, alongside LBI Entertainment‘s Julie Yorn, Chris Donnelly, and Patrick Walmsley. STARZ and Lionsgate TV produce.