Why Hulk Hogan Nixed Netflix Biopic Starring Chris Hemsworth
Eric Bischoff has explained that Hulk Hogan decided to put an end to the Netflix film about his life.
It was first reported in February 2019 that a Hulk Hogan biopic would be made, starring Chris Hemsworth in the Hogan role.
Chris Hemsworth will star as wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan in a biopic that reunites Todd Phillips with Scott Silver, the respective director and writer of the upcoming DC Comics movie, The Joker.
Deals for the Hogan project are in the midst of closing with Netflix. Producing will be Michael Sugar, the Academy Award winner behind Spotlight who will produce via his Netflix-based Sugar23, and Phillips and Bradley Cooper who will produce via their banner, Joint Effort. Also producing will be Hemsworth and Eric Bischoff.
As the years passed, news about the Hogan movie became increasingly scarce, and by August 2024, director Todd Phillips announced that the movie was no longer happening.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan passed away in July at the age of 71, so his good friend Eric Bischoff, who was a Producer on the film, has given an update on what happened.
While speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff talked about the script for the Hogan film and how everything was in place.
“Scott Silver wrote the script. Took about a year and a half. Scott Silver told me it was the best script he’s ever written at that point. Todd Phillips couldn’t wait to make the movie. Chris Hemsworth jumps on board.”
“COVID hits, shuts down the film industry worldwide… that put everything behind two years.”
Hulk Hogan Changed His Mind About Biopic
According to Bischoff, Netflix also missed a payment that led to the end of production on the film.
“Netflix was right up against it. They had 24 hours or less to get a check to Hulk in order to retain their option for another year or two. They missed the date by 12 hours. Technically, they were in breach, which means that was the end of the movie.”
As he continued, Bischoff also added that the main reason the film wasn’t made is that Hulk Hogan changed his mind due to his relationship with WWE.
“Hulk changed his mind. Hulk really wanted to maintain a long-term relationship with WWE. As much as Hulk loved that script, it was edgy. There were things in that script that certain people would not be happy to see.
There would have been some people that may have taken exception to it, and Hulk just didn’t want to take the risk. He didn’t see the upside in doing the movie to be worth the risk of putting himself into an off-balance relationship with WWE.”
Also read: Vince McMahon called Hulk Hogan’s death a blow to his heart.