Terry Bollea, better known to the world as wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, passed away on Thursday at the age of 71, leaving behind one of the most polarizing legacies in professional wrestling history, as well as an unfinished Netflix docuseries that now hangs in the balance.
For decades, Hogan was a household name, synonymous with professional wrestling’s boom in the 1980s and ‘90s. But while his in-ring persona helped shape a generation of fans, his personal life was marred by scandals that significantly tarnished his public image.
Still, Netflix saw value in revisiting Hogan’s complex story. According to Matthew Belloni of Puck, the streaming giant had quietly been working on a multi-part docuseries chronicling Bollea’s life. Directed by Bryan Storkel and produced by the studio Words + Pictures in partnership with WWE, the project reportedly included more than 20 hours of interviews Hogan completed before his death.
No release date had been announced, and Netflix has yet to comment on whether the series will move forward without its subject. But the streamer has long been interested in telling Bollea’s story in some form.
In 2019, Netflix announced a biopic with Chris Hemsworth set to portray Hogan. That project quietly fell apart due to contract issues, which Hogan himself acknowledged during a 2024 podcast appearance. Ironically, the wrestling legend praised the film’s script — written by Joker and The Fighter scribe Scott Silver — calling it “the best thing I’ve ever read.”
“They kind of missed a beat in the contract,” Bollea said on the planned movie. “There was a payment that wasn’t placed at the right time. “The script was amazing… When I read it, I’m like ‘Oh my god, this is really good.'”
Whether Netflix salvages the docuseries now remains to be seen. But with the outpouring of tributes and renewed attention to Hogan’s legacy, the project might still find its way to the screen, especially if producers feel his 20 hours of interview footage offers enough to complete the story.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.