Movie based on Andre the Giant’s life in the works
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A movie about the life of famed wrestler Andre the Giant is currently in development, according to Variety.
A graphic novel published last year titled “Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven” will be the basis of the film.
“Andre the Giant rode the wave of the rise of wrestling in America, while suffering from the painful health condition of gigantism – there’s an Elephant Man story here,” producer Scott Steindorff said.
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Born Andre Roussimoff, he first joined WWE in 1973 and quickly became one of the circuit’s most popular wrestlers. At the very first Wrestlemania in 1985, he bodyslammed another mountain of a man, Big John Studd, to win $15,000.
Listed at 7'4", 520 pounds, Roussimoff suffered from gigantism, which caused health problems throughout his career. He died of heart failure in 1993 at age 46.
Andre the Giant was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame as the only member of its inaugural class.
