Why was WWE star Hulk Hogan's biopic starring Chris Hemsworth cancelled?

Hulk Hogan’s biopic got shelved

In 2019, wrestling fans were thrilled to hear that a Hulk Hogan biopic was in the works, set to star Marvel’s Chris Hemsworth as the wrestling icon himself and directed by Joker filmmaker Todd Phillips.

The movie promised to give viewers a gritty, in-depth look at Hogan’s life and career, with Phillips teaming up with Joker writer Scott Silver and screenwriter John Pollono.

However, after years of development and much anticipation, the project eventually fell apart. Now, Hogan himself has revealed why.

Speaking on the PBD Podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan disclosed that a simple contractual issue with Netflix, which was producing the film, ultimately led him to withdraw from the project.

According to Hulk Hogan, Netflix missed a critical payment, a breach that allowed him to pull out. “They kind of missed a beat in the contract,” he explained. “There was a payment that wasn’t placed at the right time.” That missed deadline marked a turning point for Hogan, who opted to walk away from the project entirely. “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,” he said.

The film had substantial potential, especially with Hemsworth cast as Hogan. The WWE legend shared his excitement about Hemsworth’s involvement, recognizing how the Thor star’s portrayal could have elevated the biopic.

Hogan said, “There was talk that Chris Hemsworth had never played a real person before, and he could probably win an Oscar,” Hogan added. “This thing’s so powerful.”

Phillips, too, had been invested in the project’s vision. Speaking to Variety in August, he expressed his regret over the stalled film. “I love[d] what we were trying to do,” he said. However, he indicated he has no plans to revive it. “That’s not going to come together for me,” Phillips admitted, essentially closing the door on the potential biopic.

Hogan was candid about the direction the script had taken, acknowledging that it explored both the highs and the dark lows of his wrestling career.

“The script was amazing,” he said. “When I read it, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is really good.’” Hogan worked closely with the writers for three years, sharing both positive and negative insights into the wrestling world. He admitted that the script’s darker tone might have been something the public would have embraced, saying, “I told him the positive stuff about wrestling and the negative stuff… it was just very, very dark.”

Even though the movie is now shelved, Hulk Hogan remains actively endorsing Donald Trump, who has now become the 47th United States of America’s President.

This sealed the deal for President Trump. Thank you, @HulkHogan pic.twitter.com/q2MpekktXo

— PWP Nation (@PWPNation) November 6, 2024

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