Rumors are swirling that Ben Affleck, of possibly rekindled Bennifer fame, is in talks to portray WWE legend Hulk Hogan in a movie about the fall of Gawker. Matt Damon, Affleck’s longtime friend and collaborator, is also rumored to play PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel in the same film. However, these roles are not confirmed, and no casting has been officially announced.
What Went Down with Gawker
Let’s revisit the drama that unfolded in the 2010s. In 2012, Gawker published a clip from a sex tape featuring Hulk Hogan. Hogan, enraged, sued the site for $115 million with financial backing from Peter Thiel, who had a vendetta against Gawker for outing him in 2007. Hogan and Thiel won, leading to Gawker’s eventual shutdown.
The Rumored Movie: Killing Gawker
According to Variety, Artists Equity, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production banner, has acquired a screenplay written by Charles Randolph and based on Ryan Holiday’s book “Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker and the Anatomy of Intrigue.” The project, titled “Killing Gawker,” is in active development.
Gus Van Sant, who previously helmed Affleck and Damon’s “Good Will Hunting,” is set to direct. While it’s been rumored that Affleck will take on the role of the controversial wrestler, no casting has been announced at this time.
Hulk Hogan’s Legal Threats
Hulk Hogan isn’t thrilled about this film project. According to TMZ, Hogan is prepared to take legal action if the movie crosses any lines regarding his privacy. He views the Gawker lawsuit as the “darkest period of his life,” and while he is currently indifferent about the film, he won’t hesitate to pursue legal options if necessary.
Sources connected to Hogan say he has no involvement in the project and hasn’t communicated with Affleck or Damon about it. Hogan is reportedly in a good place now, with a new wife, spiritual growth, and a burgeoning business venture with his beer. He’s also involved in charitable work with a homeless shelter in Tampa.
Legal Battle Recap
In March 2016, Hogan won a $140 million judgment against Gawker Media, its founder Nick Denton, and one of its editors. The verdict was the result of a lawsuit over Gawker’s publication of a sex tape featuring Hogan, but was funded by divisive Silicon Valley businessman Peter Thiel in retaliation to Gawker outing him as gay years earlier.
In the initial ruling, the jury found that Gawker violated Hogan’s privacy by posting the tape and that he suffered severe emotional distress from the leak. The video, shot five years before it was posted, showed Hogan having sex with the then-wife of “shock jock” Bubba the Love Sponge.
Following the ruling, Gawker shut down operations. In July 2021, Gawker relaunched under the ownership of Bustle Digital Group, whose founder and CEO Bryan Goldberg bought the website’s assets for $1.35 million in a 2018 bankruptcy auction. The revival was short-lived, as the new Gawker was shut down in February 2023.
Artists Equity’s Other Projects
Artists Equity is behind “Air,” “Kiss the Future,” “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” and the upcoming Cillian Murphy-starrer “Small Things Like These.” Its other projects in development include “The Accountant 2,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “The Instigators,” and “Unstoppable.”
While these rumors remain unconfirmed, the idea of Affleck and Damon bringing the Gawker-Hogan-Thiel saga to the big screen is tantalizing. Stay tuned as this story develops.
