Summary

• Chris Hemsworth's Hulk Hogan biopic cancellation is a huge loss for his dramatic acting career.
• Hemsworth's rarity in non-franchise roles limits his versatility and potential as an actor.
• Hemsworth needs to take on a new, exciting non-franchise dramatic role to showcase his skills and boost popularity.

One Chris Hemsworth movie has officially been canceled, leaving the beloved Australian actor without a non-franchise movie to look forward to, and unfortunately, he really needs that. Since earning the role of Thor in 2011, Hemsworth has been a top action movie star. Aside from his long stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor has taken on roles in other exciting IPs such as Ghostbusters, Men In Black, and most recently, the Mad Max franchise. Hemsworth is great at portraying muscly action heroes, but he's also proven over the years that he can do both drama and comedy.

Chris Hemsworth had a particularly exciting future with Todd Phillips' Hulk Hogan biopic. Phillips was set to reunite with Joker co-writer Scott Silver, while Hemsworth himself would play the iconic professional wrestler. This would have been Hemsworth's first film since 2022 that was not connected to a pre-existing franchise or IP. Unfortunately, Phillips recently revealed to Variety that the movie is no longer happening. The director said, "I love what we were trying to do, but that’s not going to come together for me." Ultimately, this update is a devastating loss for Chris Hemsworth.

Chris Hemsworth's Hulk Hogan Movie Was A Chance To Show His Dramatic Chops

Hemsworth's Dramatic Acting History

It is difficult to see the Hulk Hogan movie get this definitive update because it was the perfect opportunity for Hemsworth to prove his dramatic acting abilities. Throughout his career, Hemsworth has garnered significant fame, and for good reason. As Thor, Hemsworth brought a level of hilarity and solemn character work that was almost always great to watch. The actor has brought that same energy to other films as well. Yet, even then, it feels like Hemsworth hasn't enjoyed a fully dramatic leading role of his own in quite a long time; Hulk Hogan would've been that.

Hemsworth has played soldiers, sailors, spies, and hunters, but he has almost never been just a regular person going through life.

Looking back on his career, Hemsworth's movie roles are often dramatic yet funny. In Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dementus is a cruel ruler, but he's also hilariously strange. Hemsworth's other more dramatic roles have also arguably been overshadowed by the action that comes with them. Almost all of Hemsworth's serious roles have been accompanied by aspects of intense action. Hemsworth has played soldiers, sailors, spies, and hunters, but he has almost never been just a regular person going through life. It's a task that would prove Hemsworth's acting abilities more than anything else.

Chris Hemsworth's Hulk Hogan Biopic Was One Of His Rare Non-Franchise Roles

Why Non-Franchise Roles Are Important

Another exciting aspect of Chris Hemsworth's Hulk Hogan biopic was the fact that it was not connected to any franchises. Along with the fact that Hemsworth's biggest roles have been action-centered or a mix of comedy and drama, he also rarely appears in movies that aren't attached to overarching franchises. In his entire career, Hemsworth has only appeared in 10 movies that are not part of bigger IPs, and two of those films are the first he ever appeared in. After Thor, Hemsworth was almost always relegated to leading massive film series.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Chris Hemsworth's highest rated franchises are the MCU, Star Trek, and Mad Max.

Starring in franchise films definitely isn't a bad thing, but it can take a toll on an actor's reputation. For the most part, this is because a franchise has much more opportunity for success than an independent movie does. Movies like Thor, Furiosa, or even Extraction have a step-up on other projects because they have source material and prior movies ing them. There is already a dedicated audience eager to like this new movie. Meanwhile, films like the Hulk Hogan biopic don't benefit from those same luxuries. The movie's success would have been pinned on Hemsworth's likability and skill.

Chris Hemsworth Needs To Find Another Exciting Dramatic Role Now

What Hemsworth Should Do Next

Now that Todd Phillips has canceled the Hulk Hogan biopic, Chris Hemsworth's movie needs to be a new non-franchise drama. No matter what, Hemsworth will continue to be a beloved actor, but taking on a dramatic non-franchise project could really boost his popularity. It will prove that he can be versatile and dynamic. Plus, it will simply be exciting to see Hemsworth in a new role that is unfamiliar to audiences. He can build a new character himself, without previous material informing him and his performance.

Another movie like the Hulk Hogan biopic would definitely be an interesting avenue for Hemsworth to go down. After the success of A24's The Iron Claw, it could be great to see Hemsworth literally jump into the ring and play a wrestler. It would be a type of action that he's never done before, and could be more nuanced than playing a superhero or soldier. On the other hand, it would also be intriguing to see Hemsworth play just a normal human being dealing with regular problems. Either way, a change in his career would be beneficial for Chris Hemsworth.