Behind-the-Scenes of “Unstoppable”: Jharrel Jerome, Anthony Robles, & Judy Robles in NYC

The journey to greatness comes at a high cost. It is the road less traveled because enduring the pain it takes to grab the prize can be grueling. The path is filled with setbacks, rejection, and disappointments that sometimes, feel impossible to overcome. Anthony Robles conquered his struggles and won, over and over, again. He felt the fear and did it anyway, until achieving something elusive to many. The athlete beat his monsters and came out on the other side, feeling worthy and seen.

In January, AW attended an exclusive advance screening of “Unstoppable” at The Whitby Hotel in NYC. The film tells the story of Robles but also highlights the dynamics of a mother-son relationship, the importance of family, and the impact an abusive relationship can have on everyone in the home. The production is based on the book Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy. 

The champ grew up in an abusive household with limited resources. His mother, Judy Robles provided the best possible life with what she had, giving her family everything they needed to survive. He worked a job to help his family and lived a relatively normal life, except that he was anything but ordinary. He began wrestling in high school, the smallest one on his team. By his junior and senior years, he finished with a 96–0 record and then went on to become a two-time Arizona State champion.  Having a birth defect, being born without a right leg, ultimately, became his superpower. This three-time all-American Wrestler,  2011 NCAA National Wrestling Champion, and Nike-sponsored athlete has a relentless drive to be the best and is truly unstoppable.

In the film, Robles is portrayed by Dominican and Bronx native, Jharrel Jerome. He is best known for When They See Us, Moonlight, Monster, I’m a Virgo, and other films. The uber-talented actor, plays opposite Jennifer Lopez, not from the same block but does come from the same NYC borough. The supporting cast of Don Cheadle, Michael Peña, and Bobby Cannavale did a phenomenal job, making us believe the journey and forget they were actors for the 1 hour and 56 minutes we watched them. The ensemble cast drew the audience into an emotional web that played at our heartstrings.

After the screening, we were invited to a Q&A session and reception with Jharrel, Anthony, and Judy, where they shared their thoughts on playing real-life characters, the emotions behind the scenes, and what it means to be unstoppable. Anthony shared words that stayed with me, hopefully, they can inspire you, too. He said, “Never let your challenges be your excuse.”

We spend most of our time pondering everything that goes wrong, reasons we can’t get ahead, or blame shortcomings for our inability to achieve dreams. If we don’t believe in ourselves and neglect the importance of a support network, the road can be long and lonely.

This film is a wonderful reminder that we always have a choice. Either, you surrender to fear and doubt or become an unstoppable force. Wrestle the struggles, ask for help, and build yourself up, as you learn the lessons that make you stronger and wiser. Believe you are enough and it will be your greatest superpower.

The biographical sports drama is now streaming on Prime Video. The world needs inspiration right now, and this is a great one. Make sure you check it out!

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