Andre the Giant is coming to the small screen one more time.
HBO Sports, WWE and the Bill Simmons Media Group will produce a documentary film examining the life and career of one of the most beloved legends in WWE history, the companies announced Monday.
“For more than 20 years, Andre the Giant‘s larger than life personality and unique charisma captured the imagination of fans around the world,” said WWE chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “I will always value our friendship, and am proud to tell the story of the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World.’”
André René Roussimoff was born in 1946 in Grenoble, France. Early in his teenage years, he exhibited signs of gigantism, rapidly growing to more than seven feet, though he was not diagnosed with acromegaly until his twenties. He would go on to use his great size — he was billed at 7’4”, 520 lbs — to become one of the most famous wrestlers of all time.
In 1987, Roussimoff hit the pinnacle of his career during his rivalry with Hulk Hogan, one of the biggest stars in WWE and pop culture history. As a new villain, Andre the Giant squared off with Hogan at WrestleMania III at the Silverdome in Michigan, and in one of the most memorable moments in history, Hogan body-slammed Andre to retain the championship in front of 93,173 fans.
Roussimoff’s larger-than-life personality also allowed him to pursue a career in acting. He appeared in television sitcoms and films during the ’70s and ’80s, often playing himself or some variation of a human giant, and is remembered for his role as Fezzik in Rob Reiner’s classic “The Princess Bride.”
Emmy-winning director and producer Jason Hehir will serve as the film’s director. HBO Sports and WWE are partnering for the first time ever on this full-length signature presentation, which will combine never-before-seen footage and interviews, including those with WWE Superstars, sports and entertainment executives, athletes, media, family, friends and associates.