Gus Van Sant is attached to direct the upcoming Hulk Hogan film Killing Gawker from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production company. It was reported over the weekend that Affleck was interested in playing Hogan in the film and that Affleck and Damon’s Artists Equity was set to produce. Variety has now confirmed that Artist’s Equity has acquired the script and that Van Sant ( Good Will Hunting, Drugstore Cowboy ) is set to direct the film.
The report notes the “rumors” that Affleck may star as Hogan, but adds that no casting has been announced yet. The film would tell the story of Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker Media over the publishing of the WWE Hall of Famer’s sex tape. The jury ruled in Hogan’s favor, finding that Gawker violated Hogan’s privacy by posting the tape and he had suffered emotional distress.
Gawker shut down following the ruling. The project is described as in active development and the screenplay is and based on Ryan Holiday’s book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker and the Anatomy of Intrigue . There is no start date for the film.
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