Chris Jericho says a television project based on the earliest years of his wrestling career is moving closer to a major next step.
Speaking with Skratch N’ Sniff, Jericho revealed that plans for a series inspired by A Lion’s Tale, his first book, have progressed to the point where a pilot episode could be filmed in the relatively near future. The project has been in development for some time, but Jericho indicated that the creative team is now approaching the pilot phase.
Rather than framing the idea as a straightforward movie biography, Jericho described the potential production as an episodic exploration of the years that shaped him before he became one of professional wrestling’s most recognizable personalities.
“We are actually working on something based on my first book, A Lion’s Tale, that we’ve been working on for a while — of doing a TV series based on that, and so, we’ve kind of moved it up the food chain and it’s getting pretty close to filming a pilot,” Jericho said. “We do have an actor that is very similar to me when he was first starting out that was from the Letterkenny series, if you ever watched that show.”
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Jericho did not identify the actor he has in mind, though he made clear that the resemblance is a notable factor in the casting discussion. He was asked who could play him in a film and initially said he did not know, before explaining why a young performer rather than an established major movie star would better suit a story set during his formative period.
“I won’t say who it is in Letterkenny but, there is a real facial similarity,” Jericho said.
A Story Focused on the Road Before Stardom
A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex chronicled Jericho’s path through the wrestling world before he became a nationally televised star in the United States. That period included the difficult, often unpredictable realities of working in multiple territories and promotions while attempting to build a name, sharpen his in-ring identity, and find a sustainable route to larger opportunities.
A scripted series rooted in that material would give the project a broader canvas than a single feature-length film. Jericho acknowledged that distinction while discussing the concept, suggesting that the appeal lies in telling the story in a format that can spend time on the early chapters of his career instead of simply delivering a condensed account of his life.
“There might be something very, very soon of not just an autobiography because that’s not enough because I’m, you know, Chris Jericho, right?” Jericho said with a smile. “I always have to push the envelope that we might have a whole actual TV series about kind of the early years of my career which would be a lot of fun. So, that’s something we’re working on.”
Jericho’s comments do not confirm that a full series has been ordered. A pilot is commonly used to establish the creative approach, cast, tone, and commercial viability of a proposed television show. Even when a pilot is filmed, further steps remain before a program becomes a completed season or receives a release date. Jericho did not announce a network, streaming platform, production partner, premiere window, or additional casting details.
Still, his description of the process points to meaningful movement. “We’re moving to the pilot stage fairly, fairly soon,” Jericho said, offering the clearest update yet on the status of the adaptation.
Why the Early Jericho Years Offer Distinct Material
The opening stretch of Jericho’s career was far removed from the international celebrity and championship success that would later define much of his public profile. Before WWE, before becoming the inaugural AEW World Champion, and before the music, television, podcasting, and other ventures that expanded his reach beyond wrestling, Jericho was a young performer attempting to establish himself in a business with few guarantees.
That contrast is central to the potential series. A story beginning with an unknown or unproven Jericho would not be built around a finished legend looking back from the top of the industry. It would instead follow the uncertainty, ambition, setbacks, travel, and professional education involved in the climb. Those elements are familiar to wrestling audiences, but they can also provide an accessible entry point for viewers who know Jericho primarily from his later, more prominent work.
Jericho’s first book gave him an opportunity to present that era in his own voice. An episodic adaptation could potentially translate the period into a more dramatic visual format, recreating the environments and decisions that preceded his rise on major American television. Jericho has not detailed which specific portions of the book would be adapted, how closely the show would follow its events, or whether real-life wrestling figures would be portrayed on screen.
Those questions will likely remain unanswered until the project formally advances beyond its planned pilot. At this stage, the most concrete information is that the concept is based on A Lion’s Tale, has been in the works for a while, and is approaching pilot production with a prospective lead actor identified.
Jericho’s AEW Legacy Continues Alongside the Project
Any exploration of Jericho’s early career would arrive with an unusual amount of built-in perspective because he remains one of the defining figures in AEW history. Jericho has been with All Elite Wrestling since 2019 and was the company’s first-ever AEW World Champion, a landmark role that immediately positioned him as a central figure during the promotion’s launch period.
His place in AEW also reflects the longevity of the career a show based on A Lion’s Tale would examine at its beginning. The performer who once traveled through the wrestling landscape in search of an opening has since worked at the highest levels of the industry over several decades and helped launch a new national promotion as its inaugural world titleholder.
That long arc gives the proposed series an obvious narrative advantage. The audience would be watching the origin story of someone whose eventual achievements are already well documented. In wrestling terms, it is not merely the story of a rookie pursuing his first break; it is the early history of a performer who went on to become a world champion in multiple major settings and an enduring television presence.
Jericho did not say whether AEW will be involved in the production. He also did not indicate whether the show’s development would affect his current wrestling schedule. The project, as described, is a separate creative endeavor centered on an earlier chapter of his life.
The Casting Question Remains Under Wraps
The most intriguing detail from Jericho’s update may be the mention of the unnamed Letterkenny actor. Casting a recognizable living wrestler is a complicated task, particularly when the story requires an actor to capture a particular age, look, mannerisms, and physical presence without turning the performance into imitation alone.
Jericho’s emphasis on a “real facial similarity” suggests the production is looking for a performer who can visually evoke the young version of him seen at the start of his journey. Beyond that, no information has been provided about auditions, contracts, supporting cast members, or whether the actor has officially signed onto the project.
For now, Jericho is keeping that identity private. That restraint is understandable given the project’s current stage. Announcing a lead before production formally begins can create expectations before the pilot has been completed, while television development can change quickly as scripts, schedules, financing, and creative decisions evolve.
What Jericho has confirmed is enough to make the project worth watching. A pilot based on A Lion’s Tale would represent an effort to bring one of wrestling’s most eventful career beginnings to scripted television, using the long-form format to explore more than a collection of career highlights.
Whether the pilot turns into a full series remains to be seen. But Jericho’s update indicates that the project is no longer merely an abstract idea. It is approaching the stage where viewers could soon get a first look at how the early days of Chris Jericho’s journey translate from page to screen.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.