A biopic based on the life and career of André the Giant (real name André Roussimoff) has entered the early stages of development, according to Variety.
Garnering full support from the family of the late, towering wrestler, the real-life drama will reportedly chronicle André’s remarkable life from the very beginning, when he spent his youth as a humble farm worker in the French Alps. From there, the wrestler and actor quite literally shot to fame, reaching an eye-watering height of 7ft 4in. Suffering from the rare condition of gigantism, André battled his way into World Wrestling Federation (now known simply as WWE) where he became a household name, before passing away at 46 years young due to congestive heart failure.
Bringing that tale to the big screen are Lion Forge Comics, working closely with Roussimoff’s daughter Robin Christensen-Roussimoff, who will consult on the biopic as it adapts Brandon Easton’s graphic novel, Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven.
“André 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,” said producer Scott Steindorff.
Before his untimely death in 1993, André the Giant also struck a chord with non-wrestling fans thanks to a minor role in 1987’s The Princess Bride. No word yet on a director to steer the biopic toward theaters, though we do know Scott Steindorff and Dylan Russell will produce in tandem with Lion Forge Comics.