The Oscar-nominated film in which Hulk Hogan was reportedly offered the lead role – TJR Wrestling

Hulk Hogan announced that he was approached for the lead role in the critically acclaimed 2008 film “The Wrestler.”

In a 2012 interview with Digital Spy, Hulk Hogan revealed that he was offered the script for The Wrestler several times, but turned down the opportunity because he feared his involvement would affect the film's credibility. Hogan openly expressed his reservations, stating:

When I kept getting the script for The Wrestler, I said, “This movie is so good. If you put me in the movie as a wrestler, people are going to say, 'No credibility, Hulk Hogan is not a good actor,' whatever Hollywood thinks of me.”

Hogan's concerns stemmed from a desire to maintain the integrity of the film and ensure it received the recognition it deserved. When reflecting on the casting of Mickey Rourke in the lead role, Hogan acknowledged Rourke's exceptional performance, noting:

When they put Mickey Rourke in there, I knew he had a chance, and he did so well that it gave his career a new lease of life.

However, Hogan's claim that he was offered the lead role in The Wrestler was refuted by the film's director, Darren Aronofsky. Aronofsky clarified on social media that Hogan was never offered the role and that Rourke was always their first choice. This contradiction makes Hogan's story even more complex, as he has a history of making bold claims about his career that have been met with skepticism.

For the record: The role of the wrestler was always @mickey_rourke it was never Hulk Hogan's, as he claims on @howardstern

— Darren Aronofsky (@DarrenAronofsky) October 9, 2012

Despite Hogan's claims, The Wrestler was a critical success, earned Rourke an Oscar nomination and relaunched his acting career.

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