Chris Hemsworth To Play Wrestling Icon Hulk Hogan in Biopic For Netflix Directed by Todd Phillips

Marvel’s Thor star Chris Hemsworth is being lined up to play WWE veteran wrestler Hulk Hogan in the new Netflix biopic.

The yet to be titled project will be helmed by director Todd Phillips (from The Hangover, and The War Dogs) and penned by Scott Silver (The Fighter). Phillips and Silver are currently being teamed up for the upcoming DC adaptation film, The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) set for the release date, October 4, 2019.

John Pollono, who wrote the screenplay for 2017's Stronger starring Jake Gyllenhaal, will also be co-writing the script for the biographical.

The deal with Netflix is almost finalized and the feature film will be produced by Michael Sugar (Spotlight) under his Netflix-based company Sugar23, under joint-effort from Phillips and  A Star is Born actor, Bradley Cooper—The Hollywood Reporter announced the news on Thursday afternoon.

Chris Hemsworth to portray Hulk Hogan in the Biopic of the same wrestler
SOURCE: Deadline

Hemsworth, 35, will also bring his share in the production value along with former WWE Raw general manager Eric Bischoff.

His fellow star from the MCU, Chris Evans is also quite excited for his Avengers co-star Hemsworth’s collaboration with Netflix.

Check out what the real-life actor behind Steve Rogers has to say on the original story of Hemsworth being cast as Hulk Hogan, below!

This might be the best news I’ve ever heard. https://t.co/oquXhJ7qJE

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) February 20, 2019

Hemsworth and Evans will share the screen at least one more time. The two actors are slated to appear in Avengers: Endgame (sequel to Avengers: Infinity War) releasing this year on 26th of April. Though their futures with the Marvel Studios beyond the Endgame, for now, remains in the blur.

Hogan, 65, began his career in the late 1970s on the Florida Wrestling Circuit and later went to become one of the biggest stars in WWE's five-decade history.

Terry Gene Bollea was the main draw for the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985 and was a household fixture for years in WWF’s signature events where he faced many formidable forces including from the likes of Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.

Hogan won six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by Rocky actor, Sylvester Stallone.

Additionally, he was also able to excel his 'Hulkamania' fan base to become a big name outside the wrestling world, having appeared in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, Hogan Knows Best. Though his best role to date was in 1982’s Rocky III as Thunderlips teaming with Mr. T as Rocky’s (Sylvester Stallone) opponent, Clubber Lang.

Don't Miss: Chinese Sci-Fi Blockbuster 'The Wandering Earth' is Coming To Netflix

However, in recent years, Hogan's has entangled himself in multiple scandals.

In 2016, a Florida jury penalized $140 million to Hogan in a privacy case revolving around a sex tape, a report claimed by Gawker.com. Back in time, the domain posted a video of Hogan having sex with a friend's wife. At the time, Gawker also argued the footage was newsworthy yet protected by the First Amendment.

Consequently, the offending party, Hogan with bankroll support from a Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, filed a lawsuit against the Gawker, which at the time raised many concerns from the various trade publishers. Nonetheless, Thiel role came to light and Hogan eventually won the jury verdict.

Gawker settled with Terry Boulder for $31 million, ending a years-long fight between the wrestler and the media company. Sadly this also led to Gawker's bankruptcy, the shutdown of Gawker.com and the sale of Gawker's other sites to Spanish-language broadcaster Univision.

Recommended: The Ultimate Party Guide For 2019 Oscars

In 2015 WWE cut off its ties with Hogan after the sex tape showed Hogan using the N-word and making homophobic comments. His last appearance to date for the entertainment company was on its subsidiary WWE Raw in 2018, which saw him honor the late ”Mean” Gene Okerlund who he’s known since their AWA days.

Back in 2008, he was also caught using racial slurs during a taped jailhouse conversation with his son Nick Hogan. 

Hogan was also involved in a steroid scandal in the 1990s.  

THR states the biopic will not cover the wrestler’s entire life and will instead focus more on his rise as more of an 'origin story', much like 2018 musical biography Bohemian Rhapsody.

Also Read:  The Angry Birds 2 Teaser Trailer Released! What to expect from the sequel?

The Georgia-born wrestling legend will act as a guide and also executively produce the flick which will, in turn, give Bollea and Netflix the exclusive life rights.

The Australian actor is lined for the life story movie isn’t just out of the blue nor the actor’s growing stardom attracted the casting directors. In fact, way back in 2013, Hogan said he would want Hemsworth to play him in his biopic should it ever be made.

'We need a serious, serious actor that knows what he’s doing. You know who I thought would be good? That guy that did that action movie, Thor.' Hogan told Toronto's Cape Breton Post.