Chris Hemsworth to Play Hulk Hogan in Todd Phillips-Helmed Netflix Biopic

Hulkamania is set for a revival as Thor actor and Marvel Cinematic Universe mainstay Chris Hemsworth is set to star as Hulk Hogan in an upcoming Netflix biopic to be directed by Todd Phillips.

Known as Terry Gene Bollea in real life, Hogan is a WWE Superstar who dominated the pro-wrestling business in the ’80s until the ’90s. He was a former WWE and WCW Champion, a World Tag Team Champion, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. However, Bollea was fired from the WWE after footage of him saying the N-word surfaced in 2015. Despite the negative backlash, he was eventually brought back to the WWE in June 2018 and apologized on live TV.

Variety reports that Netflix has acquired exclusive life rights and consulting services from Bollea himself. The film is in the early stages of development, but Michael Sugar will produce it through his Sugar23 banner. Phillips, Hemsworth, Bradley Cooper, Ashley Zalta, and Bollea will co-executive produce. The movie will follow Hogan’s Hulkamania years, starting from his early wrestling origins in the ’70s all the way to his dominance in the World Wrestling Federation circuit in the ’80s.

Hemsworth is a staple figure in the MCU after debuting as Thor in 2011. He went on to play the character in a progressive series of Marvel films—The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and the upcoming finale to the Avengers series, Avengers: Endgame in April. Apart from the MCU, Hemsworth also starred in 2018’s Bad Times at the El Royale, 12 Strong, and Ghostbusters. He’s also set to play Agen H in Men in Black: International alongside Tessa Thompson.

Phillips, on the other hand, is busy with the production of Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role. The film is set to hit theaters October 4, 2019.