One forgotten animated movie, based on Romeo & Juliet, featured Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne in its star-studded cast.
Back in 2011, former WWE superstar Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne joined forces for Gnomeo & Juliet, distributed by Disney’s now-defunct Touchstone label, which currently stands on a 55% rating on the Tomatometer. Hogan, who reportedly passed away at the age of 71 (via TMZ), just days after the recent passing of Osbourne, who died on 22 July, appeared in a brief cameo alongside a star-studded cast.
Although it remains largely obscure in the realm of animation, which is reasonable given it wasn’t a mainline entry from Disney’s own-house studio, to this date, this remains Hogan’s last major Hollywood gig.
Remember When Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne Joined Forces for Disney’s Gnomeo & Juliet
While Hulk Hogan had a history of exaggerating his Hollywood run, he did end up starring in a Shakespearean remake. Like the name suggests, Gnomeo & Juliet is based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, featuring garden gnomes with a surprising star-studded cast.
In addition to the main cast, which had the likes of Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, and Jason Statham, both Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne appeared in brief cameos, with the former voicing the announcer in the Terrafirminator ad. The Black Sabbath frontman, on the flip side, voiced the quirky and wise deer statue, Fawn.
Despite the star power involved, the movie is largely overlooked when discussing the 3D animation output of the 2010s. Unlike other major Disney titles like Tangled and Zootopia, it did little to leave a lasting impression.
Why Hulk Hogan’s Hollywood Run Never Took Off
Even though Osbourne went on to voice King Thrash in Trolls World Tour, a much more successful animated release, Hogan rarely delved into other major movie productions post the Shakespearean remake. Interestingly, before Dwayne Johnson, Dave Bautista, and John Cena successfully transitioned into Hollywood, Hogan, in the ’80s, attempted to leverage his pro-wrestling fame to make it big in showbiz.
While he did have a promising start with Rocky III, one of the more popular IPs of the ’80s, what followed was a string of B-grade action features like No Holds Barred and The Ultimate Weapon. Considering Hollywood was shifting away from star-driven, larger-than-life blockbusters in the ’90s, Hogan’s works lost their appeal.
It also didn’t help that he kept finding himself amidst controversies following his lies, which further killed his Hollywood run’s momentum. And it makes sense why the overlooked 2011 release was one of his last major Hollywood appearances, even if it’s just a voice cameo.
Then again, past his controversies and his less-than-thrilling Hollywood run, there’s still a lot to cherish about Hogan’s feats in the realm of pro-wrestling, as he was undoubtedly one of the best entertainers in the business’ history.
Gnomeo & Juliet is available to stream on Disney+ (USA).