Chris Hemsworth Hulk Hogan Biopic: Why Netflix Canceled It

When Todd Phillips first mentioned working on a Hulk Hogan biopic with Chris Hemsworth, it sounded like the kind of project that could finally bridge wrestling spectacle with prestige drama. The Dark Knight trilogy writer Scott Silver was drafting the screenplay, and Hogan’s own blessing came with talk of Oscar potential. Then Netflix missed a payment — a “business glitch” that Hogan blamed directly on the studio — and the whole project collapsed.

Project Status: Officially Scrapped · Lead Actor: Chris Hemsworth · Director: Todd Phillips · Platform: Netflix · Last Update: July 2025

What happened to the Hulk Hogan movie with Chris Hemsworth?

The Hulk Hogan biopic starring Chris Hemsworth was first announced in 2019, with Todd Phillips attached as director shortly afterward, according to SlashFilm. The project was set to focus on Hulk Hogan’s rise to fame in the 1980s, highlighting unseen aspects of professional wrestling that had never made it to mainstream screens. By 2021, the film was still moving forward but no shooting schedules had been announced.

Announcement details

Scott Silver, the writer behind Joker and The Wolf of Wall Street, crafted the screenplay. Hulk Hogan himself described the script as “amazing” and “very dark,” reportedly suggesting it could earn Hemsworth an Oscar nomination. Hogan was also listed as one of the producers on the biopic.

Development timeline

The project spent approximately three years in development with multiple script revisions. Hemsworth had never played a real person in a biopic before this project, making it a notable departure from his established Marvel franchise work. He was reportedly preparing physically, planning to bulk up more than he had for Thor and dye his hair and mustache blond to match Hogan’s iconic look.

Cancellation confirmation

Todd Phillips confirmed in 2024 that the project wouldn’t happen, telling Variety that shifted priorities after Joker had derailed the original vision. Netflix officially cited COVID-19 delays and SAG-AFTRA strikes as the reason for cancellation, according to Hindustan Times. The biopic had a dark, dramatic tone similar to Phillips’ Joker.

The implication is that the public narrative of pandemic delays masked what Hogan called a straightforward contractual misstep by Netflix.

Why Netflix Canceled Chris Hemsworth’s Hulk Hogan Movie

Two competing narratives have emerged about why the Hemsworth-Hogan collaboration never made it to screens. Netflix pointed to external forces, while Hogan insisted the studio simply dropped the ball on a contract payment.

Payment error revelation

Hulk Hogan claimed Netflix cancelled due to what he called a “business glitch” — specifically, a missed contract payment. According to SlashFilm, Hogan stated: “They kind of missed a beat in the contract. There was a payment that wasn’t placed at the right time.” On his Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast on August 21, 2024, Hogan elaborated that he exercised an option to pull out after Netflix missed a payment date. The biopic reportedly avoided Hogan’s more recent lawsuits and scandals by focusing strictly on his 1980s rise.

Todd Phillips comments

Phillips offered a more measured assessment in public statements. He told Variety in 2024 that “I love what we were trying to do, but that’s not going to come together for me,” suggesting creative differences and shifting priorities had complicated the project. According to Hindustan Times, Phillips framed it as a matter of changed circumstances rather than blaming any single party.

Netflix’s role

Netflix officially cited COVID-19 delays and SAG-AFTRA strikes for cancellation, a position that covers multiple years of production paralysis. However, industry observers note that other Netflix projects navigated similar obstacles. Multiple delays contributed to the official cancellation reasons, according to WJ JR trending coverage, suggesting the payment dispute may have been the final straw rather than the sole cause.

“Netflix screwed up.”

— Hulk Hogan, subject and producer

What this means: the gap between Netflix’s official explanation and Hogan’s direct accusation reveals how studios can obscure internal failures behind broader industry narratives.

Is Chris Hemsworth going to play Hulk Hogan?

Chris Hemsworth was officially cast in the lead role, but with the project now confirmed dead by its director, no current plans exist for him to play Hulk Hogan anywhere. The actor had expressed genuine excitement about the role, reportedly telling interviewers he was eager to capture Hogan’s distinctive voice, larger-than-life style, and confrontational attitude.

Current status

Phillips confirmed the project was definitively over in 2024, leaving Hemsworth without a clear path to portraying the wrestling legend. Hemsworth had expressed hope as recently as June 2023 that the right story could still come together, but the director’s later statements closed that door.

Hemsworth’s past statements

In interviews around the project’s peak development, Hemsworth discussed his interest in physical transformation. Sources cited by Times of India entertainment coverage indicate he was excited about capturing Hogan’s specific mannerisms and vocal patterns. The project was shelved despite apparent script approval and Hemsworth’s dedicated preparation.

Future prospects

No revival has been confirmed. Hogan still holds a five-year deal with WWE that includes provisions for documentaries and potential films, though the specifics of any future biopic plans remain unclear.

The pattern: Hemsworth now returns to Marvel franchise work while the wrestling biopic remains stalled, suggesting the Hogan role may have been a singular opportunity that has closed.

What’s the connection between Hulk Hogan and Chris Hemsworth?

The connection was a planned biopic produced by Netflix, with Hemsworth attached to star and Phillips directing. Hogan’s involvement as both subject and producer gave the project unusual access to real-life material and the wrestler’s direct input on how his story should be told.

Biopic casting

Hemsworth was cast as the lead in what would have been his first biopic role playing a real person. The casting made headlines given Hemsworth’s established franchise credentials with Marvel and the perceived ambition of taking on a wrestling legend known for distinctive vocal delivery and physical presence.

Physical resemblance prep

Preparation reportedly included significant physical transformation. Hemsworth was planning to bulk up beyond his already muscular Thor build and alter his appearance with blond hair and mustache to match Hogan’s signature look.

Project background

Silver’s script reportedly earned Hogan’s enthusiastic approval, with the wrestling legend describing it as potentially Oscar-worthy. Phillips brought his Joker collaborator Silver and his trademark dark dramatic sensibility to what was positioned as a prestige drama rather than a straightforward sports entertainment film.

The catch: the Scott Silver script that Hogan called “the best thing I’ve ever written” may now never reach audiences, representing a lost opportunity for both the filmmaker and the wrestling legend.

Why was the Hulk Hogan biopic cancelled?

The official cancellation stemmed from a combination of production delays tied to the pandemic and Hollywood labor disputes, but Hogan’s own account suggests an internal administrative failure played the decisive role.

Real reasons from insiders

Hogan maintained on multiple podcasts in 2024 that Netflix missed a critical payment date, triggering a contractual option that allowed him to withdraw. Per Hulk Hogan’s official YouTube interview, Hogan bluntly stated: “Netflix screwed up.” This explanation differs from Netflix’s public framing, which blamed COVID-19 disruptions and union strikes.

Legal and production hurdles

The biopic apparently avoided recent Hogan controversies and lawsuits by focusing exclusively on his 1980s ascendancy. This narrow focus may have limited commercial appeal while technically sidestepping legal complications that could have complicated the project.

Hogan’s input

As a producer, Hogan had contractual protections that typical film subjects don’t possess. His ability to exercise an exit option after the missed payment demonstrates how the star’s leverage in production deals can determine project survival independently of creative merit or studio intention.

Project Timeline

The pattern: the biopic announcement in 2019 set off years of development, yet it took only a single missed payment in 2024 to collapse everything — demonstrating how administrative precision matters as much as creative ambition in Hollywood production.

What People Are Saying

“I love what we were trying to do, but that’s not going to come together for me.”

— Todd Phillips, Director

“They kind of missed a beat in the contract. There was a payment that wasn’t placed at the right time.”

— Hulk Hogan, Subject and Producer

“This is the best thing I’ve ever written.”

— Scott Silver (screenwriter, quoted by Hogan)

The implication: three key figures — the director, the subject-producer, and the screenwriter — all expressed enthusiasm, yet administrative failure proved fatal.

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Chris Hemsworth prepared to embody wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, whose Hulk Hogan’s bio facts reveal a life of triumphs ending at age 71, before Netflix canceled the biopic.

Frequently asked questions

For Chris Hemsworth, the collapsed biopic means losing what Hogan called a potentially Oscar-worthy showcase. The actor now turns to Thor 5 at Marvel Studios while Hogan’s story remains locked in rights complications that continue to block straightforward film adaptations. Hogan retains his WWE deal and whatever “Killing Gawker” eventually becomes — but for Hemsworth, the prestige biopic window appears to have closed.