As a movie enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of many promising projects, it’s always disheartening to see a project as intriguing as Todd Phillips’ Hulk Hogan biopic get cancelled. The anticipation for this film was palpable, with Chris Hemsworth’s transformative workouts creating quite a stir among fans. I had high hopes for this movie and the idea of seeing Hemsworth embody the legendary wrestler was exciting. However, it seems that fate has other plans, and I can only hope that the project will find new life under a different director.
Although Todd Phillips is well-known for directing the popular Hangover trilogy and the critically acclaimed film Joker, even this accomplished director sometimes struggles to get projects moving in Hollywood. One of his projects that generated a lot of excitement was a biopic about Hulk Hogan, with Chris Hemsworth cast as the legendary wrestler. This production was initially announced in 2020 and was being handled by Netflix. As Hemsworth shared his workout progress to prepare for the role, fans were eagerly anticipating the movie. However, the project faced multiple setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and collective writers’ and actors’ strikes. Despite these challenges, viewers remained hopeful about the eventual release of the film.
Regarding the interview with Variety about the upcoming “Joker: Folie à Deux”, Todd Phillips announced that his Hulk Hogan film has been cancelled. Earlier this year in June, Chris Hemsworth mentioned the project was still in progress but would have a significant delay before release. However, it seems that Phillips is no longer involved with the movie. The director himself stated:
“I love what we were trying to do, but that’s not going to come together for me.”
At this point, it’s unclear if the Hulk Hogan biopic without Phillips will move forward. As reported by screenwriter John Pollono, it seems that the script for the movie has been finished, which could lead Netflix to seek a new director to replace Phillips. While he is busy promoting “Joker: Folie à Deux”, where he collaborates again with Joaquin Phoenix on the next and possibly final part of Arthur Fleck’s tale.
Another Hulk Hogan Biopic Is Coming
The Todd Phillips-produced Hulk Hogan film appears to be on hold, but there’s another exciting movie project in the works. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are joining forces once more to produce a movie based on Hulk Hogan’s high-profile legal battle against Gawker. After a sex tape featuring Hogan was leaked in 2012, he sued Gawker and received $31 million from the now defunct website. The film, titled “Killing Gawker,” is penned by Charles Randolph (known for “The Big Short”) and is an adaptation of Ryan Holiday’s book, “Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker and the Anatomy of Intrigue.” There are discussions underway for Gus Van Sant, who directed Affleck and Damon in “Good Will Hunting,” to take on directing duties.
Besides the Hulk Hogan biopics, there are other upcoming sports movies that delve into professional wrestling. Instead of a wrestler as the protagonist, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is filming a biopic about mixed martial arts legend Mark Kerr, titled “The Smashing Machine.” This movie, produced by A24 and directed by Benny Safdie, offers an unheard perspective on Kerr’s struggles with addiction and complex love life during his UFC career. Unlike his typical action-packed roles, “The Smashing Machine” represents a new direction for The Rock, aiming to create meaningful films.
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2024-08-23 18:01