Hulk Hogan Reveals Why His Planned Biopic Failed

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As a die-hard fan of Hulk Hogan, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions about the canceled biopic. On one hand, I’m disappointed that we won’t get to see Chris Hemsworth portray the larger-than-life wrestling legend on the big screen. On the other hand, I understand Hulk’s perspective – he is his own man, and he has a say in how his life story is told.

You might not recognize the name Terry Gene Bollea, unless you’re deeply into wrestling, but the name Hulk Hogan, on the other hand, would likely ring a bell. It’s worth noting that these two names refer to the same individual – Hulk Hogan. Hulk Hogan is a retired professional wrestler who has made a significant mark in his field and also enjoys widespread popularity as a celebrity.

In 2019, it became known that a biopic about Hulk Hogan was being developed, with Todd Phillips, famous for “The Hangover” and “Joker”, slated to direct. Chris Hemsworth was set to portray Hogan. However, the film has been stuck in development limbo for years before Todd Phillips recently confirmed that the project had been abandoned.

Recently, Hogan appeared as a guest on the PBD podcast. During their conversation, they touched upon the topic of the canceled film. Hogan was inquired about the cancellation, and he disclosed the truth behind it and why the movie never made it to the big screen despite having a completed script.

Hulk Hogan’s life story is undeniably captivating, as he’s not only a renowned professional wrestler but also a celebrity with numerous fans. Even after stepping out of the ring, his personal affairs have frequently dominated headlines, making it no wonder that someone thought to create a film based on Hogan.

2019 saw confirmation of the project. Todd Phillips had been set to direct the film, with Chris Hemsworth, an ex-Marvel Cinematic Universe actor, portraying the wrestler. However, after years of developmental struggles, the movie unfortunately did not proceed as planned, a fact that Todd Phillips confirmed this year: “I was passionate about what we were aiming for, but it seems it won’t materialize for me.

Previously, it was me, Chris Hemsworth, who was all hyped up about this movie project. Though I’m not sure how I felt when it got canceled, during its production, I shared my excitement saying, “This is going to be an incredibly enjoyable venture. Given the nature of the role, the preparation will require an unprecedented level of physical exertion. I’ll need to bulk up even more than for Thor, and that’s saying something! There’s also the accent, the physique, and the attitude to consider.

Upon the announcement, Hogan too expressed his thoughts on the cancellation, however, he did not disclose any specific reasons behind it.

In that moment, Netflix encountered a business setback by failing to meet a deadline, which led me to explore new opportunities. Suddenly, a business problem arose, and they attempted to resolve it a few days later. However, I had made up my mind to depart beforehand. Currently, the rights to my life story reside elsewhere, but I hope Todd Phillips and Chris Hemsworth remain interested in the project. There’s still significant potential for success.

Source: IGN

At that point, we were unaware of the reasons, but eventually, the wrestler disclosed the explanations for the project’s cancellation in the podcast we provided a link to earlier. Here is his account:

In the contract, there seemed to be a small oversight [when Patrick Bet-David pointed out that Netflix made a mistake]. Specifically, a payment was late. Despite this hiccup, Scott Silver, the screenwriter known for films such as ‘Joker,’ ‘Wolf of Wall Street,’ and more, had this to say: “This is the best thing I’ve ever written.” Upon reading it, my reaction was similar: Wow, this is truly exceptional.

During that period, I shared with him the optimistic aspects of wrestling. For approximately three years, we exchanged ideas, and upon reading it, I found it extremely bleak, if you catch my drift, but perhaps that’s what the public might expect. Upon reading it, I was taken aback, thinking something like, “If this gets published,” there were whispers that Chris Hemsworth had never portrayed a real person before and could potentially win an Oscar for his performance, such is its impact.

Initially, I expressed my enthusiasm by saying, “That’s fantastic, everyone will excel greatly,” but later, I found myself potentially being the last impression people have of me. At that moment, I was focusing on moving forward. When there was an opportunity for me to withdraw due to a missed deadline in business matters, I made the decision to do so. I withdrew. The situation lacked any kind of check and balance system, similar to what you’d find in a documentary. However, it did lead me all the way up to the point where I switched allegiances from my previous role to becoming Hollywood Hogan and joining WCW.

If this film surpassed expectations as anticipated, it would certainly lead to another installment, which would undoubtedly be exciting. However, having creative input doesn’t equate to creative control. What I’m suggesting is the latter – creative control. But it needs to be balanced. It can’t just lean one way, becoming overly domineering or unfair, like an unbalanced wrestler.

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2024-11-07 02:14