What Happened To Chris Hemsworth’s Hulk Hogan Biopic & Why Was It Canceled?

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As a passionate admirer of storytelling and the power of biopics to capture the essence of public figures, I can’t help but be captivated by the tumultuous journey of Hulk Hogan’s life and career. His larger-than-life persona, coupled with his controversial moments, makes him an intriguing subject for a compelling biopic.

Hulk Hogan is a wrestling legend who’s appeared in movies, TV shows, video games, and many other places over the decades. Despite being a figurehead of 20th century wrestling pop culture, there’s yet to be a movie made about the Hulkster. Hogan has plenty of fans who’d love to see a film based on his life, and in 2019, one was given the green light: “Joker” and “The Hangover” director Todd Philips was tapped to helm the project, and Chris Hemsworth was in line to play Hogan in the biopic.

Initially, Netflix intended to produce a film written by John Pollono and Scott Silver, but this project faced numerous hurdles in production for several years, eventually getting canceled. In an interview with Variety in August 2024, Martin Scorsese (referred as Phillips) disclosed the biopic’s unfortunate outcome, stating, “I was passionate about what we were aiming to create, but it just won’t materialize for me.” Scorsese merely shared his departure from the project; however, he wasn’t the last one to leave – by the end of the month, the movie had been definitively scrapped.

It came as a shock that the production of the film didn’t go ahead as planned, considering its promising appearance. Chris Hemsworth got involved in the project back in 2019, and his enthusiasm for the movie was evident. During an interview with Total Film in 2020, Hemsworth mentioned he would need to bulk up even more than he did to portray Thor, to match Hulk Hogan’s younger physique at that time. However, it appears that the Hulk Hogan biopic has been canceled, and there’s no sign of it being revived anytime soon.

What was Chris Hemsworth’s Hulk Hogan movie about?

Since the biopic about wrestling legend Hulk Hogan failed to go into production, there isn’t much detailed information available about it. The IMDb logline only states, “The story of Hulk Hogan.” However, sources like The Hollywood Reporter have provided additional insights into the project, which were shared in 2019. According to Borys Kit, the senior film writer at The Hollywood Reporter, the movie wouldn’t delve into Hogan’s entire life but would focus on his rise to fame and the emergence of Hulkamania. If the film had been made, Hogan himself would have served as executive producer and advisor, which seems fitting given these roles.

It was quite fascinating that Chris Hemsworth, who was eventually cast as Hogan, was predicted by Hulkster a few years prior. In an interview with Canadian media, he expressed his preference for Hemsworth to play him if a biopic were ever made about him. Unfortunately, the project’s cancellation means that this may never happen unless a new opportunity arises in the future. It will not be simple to secure Hemsworth’s involvement due to his busy schedule and his stated intention to limit his acting work after discovering his genetic predisposition towards Alzheimer’s disease.

Hulk Hogan’s Netflix movie was canceled for a reason you wouldn’t expect

When it was announced that the Hulk Hogan biopic would not be made, this decision followed close on the heels of Hulk Hogan’s appearance at the Republican National Convention in support of Donald Trump. Some may have assumed that Hogan’s pro-Trump speech, which undoubtedly stirred controversy, played a part in the cancellation. However, it’s important to note that Hulk Hogan’s political views were not the reason behind the biopic’s termination. Instead, the movie was scrapped due to a more common issue: contract disagreements.

During a chat on the PDB podcast, Hogan discussed the film and mentioned that there seemed to be a small oversight in the contract regarding a payment that didn’t arrive at the right moment. Hogan, who had worked as a consultant on the script, commended its dark tone and the effort he put into it over about three years of collaboration with the writer. He also expressed his belief that Hemsworth might have been contender for an Academy Award due to his performance in the movie.

Although he had high expectations for the project, Hogan chose to step back due to Netflix’s failure to meet their contractual payment deadline. He explained, “I was moving ahead at the time, but when they missed a business deadline, I had the chance to withdraw, and I took it.” Regrettably, without Hogan involved, the project disintegrated. He later sold the rights to his story elsewhere, making it impossible for Netflix to continue without his consent or involvement. As a result, for now, the biopic appears to be no longer in production.

Will we ever get a Hulk Hogan biopic or has his reputation tarnished him?

Although the biopic about me, Hulk Hogan, was unfortunately cancelled on Netflix, my passion for sharing my life story remains strong. When I learned of the cancellation, I expressed to Chris Van Vliet, a Canadian TV personality and YouTube star, that my rights have moved elsewhere and there are exciting developments on the horizon. I hope that Todd Phillips and Chris Hemsworth will still be interested in bringing this project to life, as there’s a significant opportunity here waiting to be seized. However, I haven’t shared any details about where these rights now lie, so it remains uncertain whether a new project is underway elsewhere.

Another issue regarding a future biopic is Hogan’s reputation, which has diminished in recent years due to several controversies. Hogan made a comment about body slamming Vice President Kamala Harris, which he later blamed on beer. That was one of many controversial comments and actions that have marred Hogan’s reputation in the eyes of many: He’s been called out for a racist tirade, his admission of using steroids, and undermining attempts from fellow wrestlers to start a union, among other things.

Despite the contentious nature of Hogan, such controversy can be beneficial in Hollywood, serving as fuel for an engaging biopic. Consequently, it’s plausible that Hogan’s personal struggles wouldn’t deter a movie production. As we stand in November 2024, no details have emerged about where Hogan has sold his life rights or if other studios are keen on producing a biopic. However, the general consensus appears to be more of a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ a Hulk Hogan biopic will materialize.

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2024-11-30 18:30