'Killing Gawker' Film About Hulk Hogan's Legal Battle Being Worked On By Artist's Equity

The film production company owned by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, 'Artist's Equity' is currently working on a feature film that will explore the legal battle between Terry Gene Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, and Gawker Media.

The Hollywood Reporter recently confirmed that the company managed to acquire the script 'Killing Gawker' from Charles Randolph, who previously wrote scripts for award-winning movie 'The Big Short' as well as other movies like 'The Life Of David Gale', 'The Interpreter', and 'Love And Other Drugs'.

While no particular casting decisions for the movie have been made as of yet, readers will be delighted to know that the movie might be directed by Gus Van Sant, who has previously worked on other highly regarded movies of the past like 'Good Will Hunting', 'Milk' and
'Finding Forrester'.

The movie currently in the works will explore the real legal battle that took place between former wrestler Terry Gene Bollea, often recognised by his stage name Hulk Hogan, who sued the news company Gawker Media for posting parts of a sex-tape which featured him alongside Heather Clem, wife of Todd Alan Clem, also known at the time as Bubba the Love Sponge.

In the 2013 lawsuit, Bollea sued Gawker Media on the claims that they invaded his personal life and caused severe emotional distress by sharing the sex tape without his consent. Gawker Media, on the other hand, claimed that if the case found them guilty, it could severely affect freedom of the press in the U.S.

In the end, the jury of the court found the case in favour of Bollea. Gawker media was required to pay $115 million in compensation and another $25 million in punitive damages. They eventually filed for bankruptcy, sold off all their assets, and eventually settled at an amount of $31 million with Bollea in 2016.