Retired pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, who was recently baptized and has been outspoken about his Christian faith, might not be pleased with an upcoming Hollywood project. Variety reports that Artists Equity, the production company owned by stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, is working on a film currently titled “Killing Gawker.”
The movie explores a groundbreaking invasion-of-privacy lawsuit Hogan won against Gawker Media in 2016. The screenplay is based on Ryan Holiday’s 2018 book “Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue.” Although Affleck is rumored to be playing Hogan, casting hasn’t been announced yet.
According to TMZ, Hogan (whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea) isn’t involved with the project and is “indifferent” about it so far. But the entertainer won’t hesitate to take legal action if his privacy is breached again, sources added.
Hulk Hogan Won Privacy Lawsuit
Hulk Hogan sued Gawker in 2013, after the website published footage of him having sex with the wife of his best friend, shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge. Bubba secretly recorded the incident, which featured a racial slur.
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In 2016, a jury ruled that Gawker violated Hogan’s privacy, causing him severe emotional distress. Gawker had argued it was “defending its First Amendment right to join an ongoing conversation about a celebrity when others are talking about it and the celebrity is talking about it.”
Hogan was initially awarded $140 million in damages but later settled with Gawker for $31 million. The media company eventually filed for bankruptcy as a result.
Adding to the intrigue, Hogan’s lawsuit was largely funded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who reportedly held a grudge against Gawker for outing him as gay.
Hulk Hogan on Religion and Politics
Recent headlines about Hulk Hogan have focused on religion and politics. The retired wrestler, who turns 71 on Aug. 11, went viral for ripping off his shirt at the Republican National Convention last month. On stage, he called former president and 2024 Republican nominee Donald Trump “my hero, that gladiator.”
About Trump and running mate J.D. Vance, Hogan said, “I see the greatest tag team of my life standing upon us, getting ready to straighten this country out for all the real Americans.”
Hogan said as an entertainer, he has tried to stay out of politics. But he “can no longer stay silent,” he added, “after everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years, and everything that happened last weekend,” referring to the attempted assassination of Trump.
