The Immortal Dream: 5 Shocking Reasons The Hulk Hogan Biopic Was Canceled Before The Legend’s 2025 Passing

The news sent shockwaves through Hollywood and the wrestling world: The highly-anticipated, untitled Hulk Hogan biopic, set to star Chris Hemsworth as the legendary "Hulkster" and directed by *Joker*'s Todd Phillips, was officially scrapped just months before the wrestling icon's passing. On this day, December 18, 2025, the cancellation remains one of the greatest "what ifs" in recent cinematic history, leaving fans to wonder why a project with such A-list talent and a compelling subject matter failed to materialize.

The film was intended to focus on the rise of Hulkamania in the 1980s, tracing Terry Gene Bollea's transformation from a local Florida wrestler into a global pop culture phenomenon. However, confirmation from director Todd Phillips in late 2024 revealed the long-gestating project had stalled and would not move forward, a decision that became tragically poignant when the wrestling world lost its biggest star in July 2025.

Terry Gene Bollea: The Immortal Hulk Hogan Biography

The story of the Hulk Hogan biopic is inseparable from the incredible life of the man himself, Terry Gene Bollea. His journey from a local musician to a worldwide icon is the stuff of legend, making the cancellation of his biographical film all the more regrettable.

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• Ring Name: Hulk Hogan, Hollywood Hogan, Mr. America, The Immortal
• Real Name: Terry Gene Bollea
• Born: August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
• Died: July 24, 2025, in Clearwater, Florida, U.S. (Aged 71)
• Debut: 1977
• Peak Career Era: The 1980s wrestling boom, ushering in "Hulkamania" in the WWF (now WWE).
• Key Accomplishments: Headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events; 6-time WWF/WWE Champion; 6-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion; WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
• Notable Persona Shifts: The heroic, all-American "Hulk Hogan" and the villainous, black-and-white "Hollywood Hogan" in the New World Order (nWo).
• Post-Wrestling Career: Actor (e.g., *Suburban Commando*), television personality (*Hogan Knows Best*).

The A-List Team That Couldn't Save The Biopic

The untitled Hulk Hogan project was not a low-budget indie film. It boasted some of the biggest names in Hollywood, which made its eventual demise particularly surprising. The film was first announced in 2019, promising a blockbuster treatment for the wrestling icon's life story.

Chris Hemsworth's Commitment and Physical Transformation

The casting of Chris Hemsworth as Hulk Hogan immediately generated massive buzz. Hemsworth, best known for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was required to undergo a physical transformation that he himself described as needing to "put on more size than ever before."

He dedicated himself to intense training, regularly sharing photos of his massive physique that were clearly tailored to capture Hogan's legendary bulk. Hogan himself publicly approved of Hemsworth's dedication, stating the actor was "ready" to play him. This commitment from a major star highlights how serious the project was and deepens the mystery of its ultimate failure.

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Todd Phillips and the Creative Vision

The choice of Todd Phillips to direct was equally intriguing. Fresh off the critical and commercial success of *Joker*, Phillips brought a dark, character-driven sensibility to the project. The screenplay was co-written by Phillips and Scott Silver, the pair who penned the Oscar-winning *Joker*, alongside John Pollono. The creative team suggested the film would be more than just a standard sports biopic; it was expected to be a deep dive into the complex and often controversial life of Terry Bollea.

Phillips’ focus shifted significantly after the biopic stalled. He went on to direct the highly anticipated sequel, *Joker: Folie à Deux*, further cementing his position in the DC universe, and effectively closing the door on the Hogan project in 2024.

The 5 Critical Reasons the Biopic Was Scrapped

The cancellation of the biopic, confirmed by Phillips and detailed in various reports, was not due to a single issue but a confluence of factors, revealing the complex nature of adapting a high-profile, real-life story. These issues ultimately doomed the project before Hulk Hogan's unexpected passing in July 2025.

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1. Contractual and Financial Disputes with the Platform

The primary and most frequently cited reason for the collapse was a major breakdown between the production and the streaming platform, widely reported to be Netflix. Reports suggest the film was scrapped due to "contractual reasons" and a "missed payment" by the OTT platform. This financial and legal hiccup appears to have been the final nail in the coffin, leading to a missed production deadline that could not be recovered.

2. Missed Netflix Deadline and COVID Delays

Wrestling personality Eric Bischoff, who was close to the project, revealed that the film faced significant delays. The COVID-19 pandemic severely hampered pre-production, including travel and the rigorous training schedule required for Hemsworth's transformation. These delays caused the project to miss a critical deadline set by Netflix, which was a major contributing factor to the streaming giant pulling the plug.

3. Hulk Hogan's Protection of His WWE Ties

Another crucial factor was Hulk Hogan's own involvement and his desire to protect his long-standing relationship with WWE. The biopic was intended to cover the formative years of his career, which are deeply intertwined with the history of the WWF/WWE. Hogan reportedly pulled out of the deal after the missed payment, partly to ensure his career narrative and image remained aligned with the wrestling promotion, avoiding any potential conflicts that a major Hollywood film might introduce.

4. The Shadow of Controversy and the Gawker Lawsuit

While the film was intended to focus on the 1980s rise of Hulkamania, any comprehensive biopic would inevitably have to address the later controversies in Bollea's life. His 2012 sex tape leak and the subsequent, highly publicized $140 million lawsuit against Gawker Media were massive, career-defining events. Navigating the legal and public relations minefield of these sensitive topics, while maintaining the family-friendly tone of the early Hogan years, presented a significant narrative challenge for the writers, Scott Silver and John Pollono.

5. Director Todd Phillips' Shifting Focus

Todd Phillips' massive success with *Joker* and the subsequent greenlighting of *Joker: Folie à Deux* meant his professional priorities shifted dramatically. The *Joker* sequel demanded his full attention, and with the Hogan biopic already facing financial and scheduling turmoil, Phillips made the pragmatic decision to officially confirm its cancellation in 2024. The project simply could not compete with the demands of a major DC franchise sequel.

What Remains of The Immortal Hulk Hogan Biopic?

The cancellation of the untitled Hulk Hogan biopic with Chris Hemsworth and Todd Phillips is a stark reminder of the volatility of Hollywood development, even with the biggest names attached. The project’s failure is doubly disappointing now that the wrestling world mourns the loss of Terry Gene Bollea, who passed away on July 24, 2025.

What remains is a fascinating collection of unused preparation, including Hemsworth's incredible body transformation, and a script outlining the early days of the wrestling boom. Fans are left only with the memory of "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan and the tragic realization that the definitive cinematic telling of his life story was lost to contractual disputes and missed deadlines, just before the final curtain call.