Hulk Hogan ‘Killing Gawker’ Film in Active Development With Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Artists Equity
variety.comKatcy Stephan A film about Hulk Hogan’s infamous legal battle against Gawker is officially in the works. Artists Equity, MattDamon 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.
In March 2016, Hogan won a $140 million judgement 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 controversial 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.
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