Eric Bischoff Reveals: Hulk Hogan Ditched Netflix Biopic to Protect WWE Ties – Inside the Chris Hemsworth Scrapped Film
In the high-stakes world of wrestling legends turned Hollywood hopefuls, a blockbuster dream crashed before cameras rolled. Eric Bischoff, WWE Hall of Famer and ex-WCW chief, just dropped the bombshell on why Hulk Hogan personally axed his own Netflix biopic starring Chris Hemsworth.
The Hulk Hogan biopic canceled saga, long rumored in wrestling circles, finally got the full backstage treatment on Bischoff’s 83 Weeks podcast. Kicking off in 2019 with major buzz, the project teamed Hogan’s wild life story with director Todd Phillips—fresh off Joker success—and writer Scott Silver, who poured 18 months into what he called his best script ever. Chris Hemsworth, the Thor star, was locked in to play the Hulkster, promising a muscle-bound dive into Hogan’s rise from Hulkamania to nWo heel turn. Bischoff, pulling producer strings, raved about the edgy vibe: “Hulk loved that script… it was fantastic.”
But timing turned brutal. COVID-19 slammed Hollywood in 2020, stalling pre-production for two years and pushing Netflix to the brink. Their two-year option on Hogan’s life rights expired after a frantic 24-hour window—they missed renewal by just 12 hours, killing the deal on a technicality. “It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion,” Bischoff quipped, but that wasn’t the real gut punch.
Enter Hogan’s call: the man himself pulled the plug, fearing the film’s raw take would torch his hard-won WWE peace. Fired in 2015 over a leaked racist rant, Hogan clawed back into the fold by 2018, nabbing Hall of Fame reinstatement and cameos at WrestleMania. The script’s unfiltered angles on key players and eras? Too risky. “There were things in that script that certain people would not be happy to see,” Bischoff revealed. “Hulk just didn’t wanna take the risk… He didn’t see the upside worth putting himself into an off-balance relationship with WWE.”
Bischoff didn’t hold back on the what-ifs. He envisions Hemsworth nailing Hogan’s charisma, with Phillips delivering a gritty biopic rivaling The Wrestler. Yet Hogan prioritized brand longevity over silver-screen glory, a move echoing his savvy career pivots from ’80s icon to ’90s villain.
Wrestling fans are buzzing online, with X threads lighting up over the aborted Hulk Hogan film drama. One viral post lamented, “Hulk vs. Thor? We were robbed!” while others praised Hogan’s WWE loyalty amid TKO’s streaming push. Vince Russo, ex-WCW scribe, chimed in on a separate pod, calling Hogan’s family saga a “sad story” that could’ve fueled Oscar bait.
For U.S. sports entertainment diehards, this hits home amid WWE’s Netflix shift in 2025—ironic, since the biopic was once their baby. It spotlights the tightrope wrestlers walk between ring glory and reel risks, especially as climate like Hogan’s scandals linger. Economically, scrapped projects like this dent Hollywood’s $500 billion machine, but boost podcast gold for insiders like Bischoff.
User intent here screams for the unvarnished truth: How does a legend dodge drama? Hogan’s choice underscores strategic restraint, a lesson for rising stars eyeing crossovers. As Bischoff noted, early Hollywood flings—like Hogan’s Santa with Muscles flop—taught him to pick battles wisely.
The fallout? No bad blood with Netflix, but rights entanglements with Hogan’s kin make revival a long shot. Bischoff hints at a Randy Savage flick next—who for Macho Man? His vote: Dave Bautista.
In wrapping this Hulk Hogan biopic saga, Bischoff’s candor spotlights a wrestling world where loyalty trumps spotlights. Looking ahead, expect more tell-alls as WWE’s Netflix era ramps up, potentially reopening doors for Hogan’s untold tales—minus the edge that scared him off.
By Sam Michael
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