Why the Hulk Hogan biopic with Chris Hemsworth by no means made it to the ring

Following the dying {of professional} wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, consideration has returned to the as soon as high-profile biopic that by no means materialised, regardless of the involvement of main Hollywood names. First introduced in 2019, the untitled undertaking was set to star Thor actor Chris Hemsworth as Hogan, with Joker director Todd Phillips on board to direct and co-write the screenplay with Scott Silver (The Fighter, 8 Mile) and Jon Pollono.

Set up at Netflix, the movie promised to chart the lifetime of Hogan (born Terry Bollea) from his early days as a rising wrestler to his mainstream fame and later controversies, together with the Gawker lawsuit and leaked tapes that includes racist remarks. The undertaking gained early buzz for its A-list solid and inventive workforce, with Oscar-winning Spotlight producer Michael Sugar additionally hooked up.

However, the movie by no means moved ahead. The launch and shock success of Joker in late 2019 shifted Phillips’ focus, whereas the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 delayed or shelved quite a few productions, together with this one. Despite renewed curiosity in 2023 — when Hemsworth mentioned he nonetheless hoped to play the wrestling legend — artistic momentum slowed. Phillips went on to direct Joker: Folie à Deux, launched in 2024, however later confirmed to Variety that he had formally stepped away from the Hogan undertaking. “I really like what we have been attempting to do,” he mentioned, “however that’s not going to return collectively for me.”

In a 2024 podcast, Hogan himself revealed a contractual difficulty induced a key fee to be missed, contributing to the undertaking’s collapse. He praised Silver’s script, calling it “very darkish,” and hinted that the screenplay had the potential to make waves if ever launched.

Despite the roadblocks, Hollywood insiders counsel that the undertaking isn’t totally lifeless. A powerful script, an star, and the renewed consideration following Hogan’s dying could but revive the movie if the monetary and authorized hurdles may be cleared