Ben Affleck and Matt Damon plan Hulk Hogan vs. Film the Gawker trial

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon found success with the real-life story of how Nike snagged a deal with Michael Jordan through ‘Air’. But for their upcoming truth-based story, they’ve apparently chosen a very wild affair.

The pair are attached to star in and produce (through their company Artist Equity) ‘Killing Gawker’, which will follow the 2016 story of how Hulk Hogan took gossip site Gawker to trial over the controversial publication of his sex tape.

Unlike ‘Air’, which had Affleck in the director’s chair, this could see a reunion for the pair with someone who had a huge impact on their cinematic past — Gus Van Sant, who directed his first script, ‘Good Will Hunting’. had done (which won the pair an Oscar), is said to be on board to direct.

According to Reporter Jeff Schneider (Also with news Crop on PWInsider), the movie, which has been chugging along in development, will now kick into high gear.

What is the story of ‘Killing Gacker’?

(L to R) Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Hulk Hogan at the 1998 ‘Survivor Series’. Photo: WWE.

Based on Ryan Holliday’s 2018 book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue, the film will chronicle Hogan’s lawsuit against the now-defunct website Gawker, with a script by Charles Randolph of The Big Short. to release a sex tape video Hogan was unaware of at the time being filmed by former friend Bubba the Love Sponge (to clarify, Hogan was having an affair with Bubba’s wife).

The tape was later stolen and leaked. Former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel secretly funded Hogan’s lawsuit to hurt Gawker, which had previously published negative stories about him. Hogan won a huge verdict and Gawker was shuttered. In July 2021, Gawker relaunched under the ownership of Bustle Digital Group, whose founder and CEO Brian Goldberg purchased the website’s assets in a 2018 bankruptcy auction for $1.35 million. The revival was short-lived, as New Gawker was shut down in February 2023.

Who will play Affleck and Damon in ‘Killing Gawker’?

Schneider reports that Affleck will be Hulk Hogan and Damon is set as Peter Thiel. And boy, we can’t wait to see the set pics/first pics of Ben Affleck as Hulk Hogan!

Apparently, the team wants to shoot this one in early 2025, but no official date has been set yet.

When will ‘Killing Gawker’ hit the screens?

With no studio or streaming home attached yet, there’s no release date to report, but given the elements involved, we can’t imagine this won’t be out quickly.