Actor Josh Gad has been hired to test his writing skills by WWE Studios, which is developing Gorgeous George, a biopic on George Raymond Wagner, one of the early stars of pro wrestling.
WWE Studios and Robert Haimi Jr.’s Great Point Media announced the project on Wednesday, adding that Gad will co-write the script with his longtime writing partner Ryan Dixon. No cast or director for the new film was announced.
Gorgeous George lived from 1915 to 1963 and was a major influence on professional wrestling, turning the sport into a television event. His flamboyant persona’s reach went beyond wrestling, with many crediting him with influencing Muhammad Ali, James Brown and others.
“Gorgeous George was a true pioneer in television,” Michael Luisi, President of WWE Studios, said in a statement. “Josh is a true talent and we are thrilled to see him and Ryan tackle such a groundbreaking story.”
Gad is better known for his work in front of the camera, recently starring in Adam Sandler’s Pixels and he just finished filming Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast. He also voiced Olaf the snowman in Frozen. As a writer, he is currently working on Triplets, a long-gestating sequel to the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Danny DeVito movie Twins.