Why Hulk Hogan’s ‘Amazing’ Biopic Was Canceled at Netflix

An “amazing” Hulk Hogan biopic starring Chris Hemsworth was once in the works at Netflix, but an issue with the contract ultimately led to its demise. The feature, with Joker collaborators Scott Silver and Todd Phillips attached as writer and director, respectively, had undergone a three-year process when a “payment wasn’t placed at the right time.” According to the controversial wrester himself (real name Terry Bollea), the biopic was shaping up to be a potential award season contender. During an appearance on the PBD podcast, Hogan spoke about the scrapped film.

“They kind of missed a beat in the contract. Yeah…There was a payment that wasn’t placed at the right time. The script was amazing. Scott Silver, who wrote the script for
Joker
,
Wolf of Wall Street
, a bunch of other movies, said, ‘This is the best thing I’ve ever written.’ When I read it, I’m like, oh my god, this is really good. At the time, I was in a space where I told him the positive stuff about wrestling.”

Chris Hemsworth was set to lead the film as the WWE Hall of Famer. Continuing to sing the script’s praises, Hogan said that it was so “powerful” that it could have landed the Thor actor an Oscar. Ultimately, Hogan decided to pull out of the film when the opportunity presented itself, because of concern that the film might have been the last thing people remembered him for:

“Spent about three years with this writer going back and forth. When I read it, it was just very, very dark, if that would be the right word, but it was probably what the public may want to see. When I read it, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, if this thing comes out,’ there was talk that Chris Hemsworth had never played a real person before and he could probably win an Oscar, this thing is so powerful. I said, ‘That’s great, everybody’s gonna do really great,’ then I’m gonna be left here alone, and that might be the last thing people remember me for, so I just was moving forward at the time, and when they business-wise missed a date, there was an option for me to pull out, and I did. I pulled out.”

Another Hulk Hogan-Centered Feature is Now in the Works

Hogan is one of the most famous names in wrestling (arguably, the sport’s most iconic figure), but he’s faced his share of controversies: in 1994, during Vince McMahon’s steroid trial, Hogan testified that he had used steroids (without McMahon’s knowledge); in 2012, a sex tape featuring Hogan was leaked online, and he subsequently sued outlet Gawker Media for invasion of privacy and emotional distress; and in 2015, leaked recordings revealed Hogan using racial slurs. He was terminated from the WWE and removed from the WWE Hall of Fame but was reinstated in 2018 after issuing a public apology and attending sensitivity training. Hogan also recently made headlines for his campaigning efforts on behalf of President-elect Donald Trump.

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While the Phillips-directed project won’t see the light of day, another Hogan-centered movie is currently in production. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Artists Equity banner is behind Killing Gawker, which will follow the Hogan and Gawker trial. Based on Ryan Holiday’s Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker and the Anatomy of Intrigue, the upcoming feature’s screenplay is written by Charles Randolph (The Big Short). Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) will be at the film’s helm, with rumors circulating that Affleck will star as Hogan. After Hogan’s legal win against Gawker (which granted Hogan a $140 million judgment), the outlet filed for bankruptcy.