Hogan Offered the Wrestler Role

Hulk Hogan turned down the chance to star in Oscar-nominated movie the Wrestler over fears he wouldn't be taken seriously as an actor.

The former ring star has revealed movie bosses sent him the film's script several times in a bid to persuade him to sign on, but he declined andthe lead role eventually went to Mickey Rourke, who won an Academy Award nomination for his performance.

Hogan admits he was tempted by the story of a washed up wrestler who goes back to the ring, but didn't want to spoil the film's chances of success.

He tells Digital Spy, "When the script for The Wrestler kept coming to me I said, 'This movie is so good if you put me in the film as a wrestler people are going to say, 'No credibility, Hulk Hogan isn't a good actor', whatever Hollywood thinks of me'.

"As soon as they put Mickey Rourke in there I knew it had a chance, and he did such a great, great job it re-lit his career".