The future of the controversial Hulk Hogan biopic has been revealed – days after the WWE icon’s shock death.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday, July 24 at age 71 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
Last August, it emerged that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity were developing a movie based on Hogan’s explosive 2016 legal battle with Gawker Media over his leaked sex tape.
The film was based on Oscar-winning writer Charles Randolph’s screenplay Killing Gawker – an adaptation of Ryan Holiday’s 2018 nonfiction book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker and the Anatomy of Intrigue.
At the time, Affleck and Damon’s Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant, was in talks to helm the project, while Affleck was rumored to be playing Hogan.
However, sources told TMZ this week Artists Equity will no longer be moving forward with the project – which hasn’t been in development ‘for some time.’
The future of the controversial Hulk Hogan biopic has been revealed – days after the WWE icon’s shock death – pictured 2009
Last August, it emerged that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity were developing a movie based on Hogan’s explosive 2016 legal battle with Gawker Media over his leaked sex tape – the actors are pictured in March 2025
It was claimed the decision was made ‘a while ago, long before Hulk’s passing.’
Hogan was not involved in the project. Sources claimed to TMZ that the wrestler ‘would pursue legal action if they crossed a line.’
Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Artists Equity for comment and has yet to hear back.
In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media.
Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a extract of a video of him having sex with Heather Clem, then the wife of his former best friend and radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.
Hogan was best man at the couple’s 2007 wedding. The couple have since divorced, while the sex tape predates Hogan’s own divorce in 2009 from his then-wife Linda.
Gawker, which claims it got a copy of the sex video from an anonymous source, has long asserted that Hogan was aware that the recording was being made.
Hogan contended the post violated his privacy.
Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted an extract of a video of him having sex with Heather Clem, then the wife of his former best friend and radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem – pictured 2009
In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media – he is pictured in 2005 with ex-wife Linda who he divorced in 2009
In his lawsuit, Hogan claimed the video caused ‘severe and irreparable injury which cannot be adequately compensated by monetary damages’ – pictured December 2024
According to Gawker, Bubba Clem can be heard at the beginning of it egging on the two, telling them to ‘do (their) thing.’
Hogan admitted that he had consensual sex with Heather Clem, in the couple’s home, but he claimed that didn’t know he was being secretly recorded by a security camera.
‘Mr Hogan had a reasonable expectation of his privacy, just as all Americans have a reasonable expectation of their privacy in their bedrooms,’ his attorney, Charles Harder, said at the time.
In his lawsuit , Hogan claimed the video caused ‘severe and irreparable injury which cannot be adequately compensated by monetary damages’.
In the days of the video was published by Gawker, Bubba accused Hulk of possibly leaking the tape himself. He also made it clear that he and Hogan were no longer friends.
Bubba later retracted his comments following Hogan’s lawsuit.
‘It is my belief that Hulk is not involved, and has not ever been involved, in trying to release the video, or exploit it, or otherwise gain from the video’s release in any way,’ he said in a statement.
After news of Hogan’s death broke, Bubba told TMZ: ‘I’m heartbroken to hear of Terry’s passing. As everyone knows we had our issues and those issues were mostly my fault. I loved him as a friend while he was with us, and will continue to love his memory as a friend going forward.’.
Hogan’s death comes just weeks after his wife Sky Daily denied rumors he was on his deathbed in a coma – and claimed his heart was ‘strong’ after he underwent a routine neck surgery.
Hogan is survived by his third wife Daily, who he wed in 2023, children Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34, who he shared with first wife Linda Claridge, and two grandchildren.
Hulk Hogan’s representative, Linda Bose, confirmed his death to CBS NEWS, saying: ‘Unfortunately we must confirm that Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan passed away this morning.
‘We are heartbroken. He was such a great human being and friend.’
In the 1980s, Hogan was the driving force behind WWE’s rise from a regional promotion around New York to an international brand – pictured 1991 – but saw his legacy tainted by a racism scandal in 2015
The shock death comes just weeks after his wife Sky denied rumors he was on his deathbed in a coma – and claimed his heart was ‘strong’ after he underwent a routine neck surgery – pictured together July 2024
A statement on Hogan’s official Instagram account read: ‘It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend.
‘Our beloved Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away today surrounded by his loved ones.
‘At this time of grief, we ask that everyone please respect the privacy of his family and friends.
‘May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades.
