Bill Simmons’s Next HBO Project? His Long-Awaited Return to Sports Documentaries

Following the cancellation of his weekly talk show Any Given Saturday, many in the sports media world wondered what was next for next for Bill Simmons at HBO — given that the network signed him to a lucrative, high-profile contract in 2015. Monday, the network publicly gave its answer.

Simmons will return to making sports documentaries — which he did to award-winning acclaim with ESPN’s 30 for 30 series — by serving as executive producer on a film examining the life of wrestling great Andre the Giant.

In a joint press release from HBO and the WWE, Simmons said that Andre the Giant has long interested him as a documentary subject.

“Going back to 2007 and 2008 when I was creating and developing 30 for 30 for ESPN, Andre’s story rode the top of every single sports documentary wish list I ever made,” Simmons said. “We always hear about unicorns these days – Andre was the ultimate unicorn.”

The film will focus on the 18-year WWE career of Andre the Giant, which spanned from 1973-1991. It will also study his life outside the ring, and include never-before-seen footage.

“He’s a true legend,” Simmons said. “Everyone who ever crossed paths with him has an Andre story – and usually four or five.”

No release date was announced for the project, which will be directed by Jason Hehir, who served as a producer on several 30 for 30 documentaries.

[image via screengrab]

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