Secret Hulk Hogan Biopic Starring Major A-Lister Never Made It To Screen originally appeared on Parade.
Wrestling and pop culture legend Hulk Hogan’s death on July 24 shocked the world — and despite his icon status, a secret biopic that was in the works for years starring beloved A-List actor Chris Hemsworth never actually happened.
“For ten years, I developed a Hulk Hogan biopic. It was the thrill of a lifetime to work with one of the Mount Rushmore’s of professional wrestling,” filmmaker Joe Russo, who is perhaps best known for his work on horror legend Mick Garris’ podcast Post Mortem, tweeted on the day of Hulk’s death.
He added, “We got close. Hemsworth starring. Todd Phillips directing. Netflix financing. But the most exciting moment was when he called me ‘brother.’ RIP to an icon.”
Had the project been made, that means not only would Hemsworth, 41, been starring as the wrestler — whose real name was Terry Bollea — but Joker and Joker: Folie a Deux filmmaker Todd Phillips would be at the helm, with major streamer Netflix funding and presumably distributing the film. Putting all those elements together really makes it sting that this movie didn’t end up moving from the development process to production.
That said, maybe now that Hogan has died, it will revive studio interest in a biopic project, even if it isn’t the one Russo speaks of.
The WWE icon suffered fatal cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater Beach, Florida on Thursday, and his wife, Sky Daily, revealed that his health had been uncertain in recent time.
“I wasn’t ready for this…and my heart is in pieces,” the 46-year-old wrote in a statement via Instagram. “He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.”
She continued, “This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart.”
The yoga instructor also noted how much her husband appreciated his connection to his supporters. “Hulk loved his fans so much and despite his growing physical discomfort,” Daily explained. “He did everything he could to show up, sign autographs, take photos, and connect with the people who supported him through it all. You meant everything to him.”
She concluded, “He was a believer in Christ, and I take comfort knowing his soul is at peace and he’s been welcomed home. Please keep his family and all of us who loved him in your prayers as we try to navigate this new reality.”
Hogan married Daily in 2023, 14 years after his divorce from first wife Linda Hogan. The late wrestler and his first wife, 65, share two children, Brooke Hogan and Nick Hogan.
Secret Hulk Hogan Biopic Starring Major A-Lister Never Made It To Screen first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
