Following its world premiere in Basel, Taming the Beast travelled to Liechtenstein for a special premiere screening at the historic Altes Kino Vaduz — and once again, the evening proved that Eddie Hall’s story reaches far beyond the world of strength sports.

The audience in Vaduz reflected exactly what we have always believed about this film: Taming the Beast is not made for one particular demographic.



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Among the guests were athletes, artists, musicians, business leaders, representatives of the Liechtenstein government, members of the local film and cultural community, and several representatives connected with the Liechtenstein Media Fund, a new film fund created to finance ambitious international feature productions.

A well-known dancer sat alongside entrepreneurs. A musician watched the film next to government representatives. Film professionals shared the room with people who had never followed strongman competition in their lives.
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And yet, once the lights went down, everyone was watching the same human story.

The Liechtenstein press had already recognised before the screening that Taming the Beast was not a conventional sports documentary.

The Liechtensteiner Vaterland described the film as the story of a man celebrated as the strongest in the world who nevertheless had to confront depression, psychological pressure and the emptiness that followed achieving his ultimate goal. It highlighted the fact that the true strength of the documentary lies not in sport itself, but in Eddie’s willingness to speak openly about his mental-health struggles.
That became immediately apparent during the screening.
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As in Basel, there were moments when the room was completely silent. Eddie’s victories impressed people, of course, but it was his vulnerability, his family, his relationship with his past and his struggle to understand what comes after reaching the top that seemed to connect most strongly with the audience.

​Local coverage following the premiere described the evening as one filled with both international glamour and deep human emotion, calling the documentary an intimate portrait of a man who risked everything for his dream and nearly broke under the weight of it.

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Just as in Basel, the evening did not end when the credits rolled.

The Q&A became one of the highlights of the night, with Lead Executive Producer Guido Baechler and Director Josias Tschanz taking questions from the audience and sharing stories from a production journey that stretched across almost a decade.

The discussion naturally returned to some of the film's deeper subjects. Why had the documentary taken so many years to complete? How did COVID change the production? When did everyone realise that this was no longer simply a film about the World's Strongest Man? And why did mental health ultimately become the emotional heart of Taming the Beast?

The local press later highlighted the audience discussion as one of the memorable parts of the evening, particularly the stories about the pandemic years and filming Eddie in Switzerland.
But not everything was serious.

At one point, Guido introduced a behind-the-scenes clip featuring a familiar face in Liechtenstein: DJ Alan, the well-known local cosplayer and entertainer famous for his uncanny incarnation of Alan from The Hangover films.

Alan had already attended the world premiere in Basel and came to Vaduz for a second helping—this time accompanied by his entourage.

There was a good reason for showing the clip.

Back in April 2022, only about a month after Switzerland had lifted its pandemic restrictions, the Taming the Beast team was finally able to return to filming. One of those shoots took place in Weggis, on Lake Lucerne, where Guido temporarily exchanged his Line Producer and Executive Producer hats for a director's hat.
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The purpose of the shoot was a very personal segment between Eddie Hall and Chris Fretwell, the film's second director. After everything the production had been through during COVID, it was an important moment: cameras were rolling again, Eddie was back in Switzerland, and Taming the Beast was moving forward.

Bringing Taming the Beast to Vaduz also had a personal significance for Lead Executive Producer Guido Baechler.

Over the years, Liechtenstein has increasingly become a second professional home for him. His connection to the country now extends well beyond Taming the Beast: as the founder of the LXF SICAV - LMF Liechtenstein Media Fund, he has become closely involved in building a new film-financing platform based in the Principality, designed to participate in the development and production of ambitious international motion pictures.

That made the Vaduz premiere feel particularly special.

Among the audience were several representatives connected to LXF, alongside representatives from the Liechtenstein government, the arts, music, business and the local cultural community. It created an unusual mix of people in one cinema—established filmmakers sitting alongside people involved in what we hope will become part of the next generation of international filmmaking connected to Liechtenstein.
Taming the Beast itself also has Liechtenstein connections. Patrick Heeb of Vaduz and other Liechtenstein-based supporters are credited among the film's Executive Producers, something the Liechtensteiner Vaterland highlighted in its coverage surrounding the Vaduz screening.

But perhaps the more interesting connection is what the evening represented looking forward.
Taming the Beast was an international production that crossed borders repeatedly during its long journey—from Britain and Switzerland to Austria, the United States, Canada and beyond. Now, as Guido's own filmmaking activities become increasingly connected with Liechtenstein through LXF, presenting the finished film in Vaduz felt like one journey arriving home just as another one is beginning.

What became clear again in Vaduz is that Eddie Hall’s story does not belong exclusively to strongman fans.

You do not have to understand deadlifting.

You do not have to know who won World’s Strongest Man in 2017.

You do not have to follow bodybuilding, boxing or fitness culture.

You only have to understand what it feels like to pursue something with everything you have, finally achieve it — and then discover that success has not answered every question.
That is where Taming the Beast becomes universal.

The Vaduz audience came from completely different worlds, but during the Q&A many of the conversations returned to the same subjects: purpose, family, pressure, vulnerability, resilience and the expectations we place upon ourselves.
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That is why these premiere evenings have become so important to us.
They allow us to see the film through the eyes of the audience.

​Basel gave Taming the Beast an unforgettable world premiere.

Vaduz gave us something different, but equally special: an intimate evening where filmmakers, government representatives, artists, financiers, athletes and moviegoers could sit together, watch Eddie’s journey and then talk about what it meant to them.

For a documentary that ultimately asks us to reconsider what strength really means, there could hardly have been a better audience.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Altes Kino Vaduz, to those who participated in the discussion, and to everyone in Liechtenstein who helped make the evening possible.
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The journey of Taming the Beast continues — and Vaduz will remain a very special chapter in it.

In a recent Generation Iron podcast conversation with host Kai Greene and co-host Edwin Mejia, Eddie Hall opened up about the deeper story behind Taming the Beast—and why the film is about far more than becoming World's Strongest Man.

The discussion touches on depression, pressure, family, life after success, and the difficult reality of living as a public figure whose every action is judged by millions.
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For anyone interested in understanding the emotional core of Taming the Beast, this conversation offers an excellent introduction.

Eddie begins by talking about something many successful athletes rarely discuss: losing.

For someone at his level of fame, a setback isn't simply something that happens in private. A poor performance, a mistake, or a personal conflict can immediately become public conversation.

As Eddie explains, part of the purpose of Taming the Beast is to show what life actually feels like from inside that pressure. The public sees the strength, the confidence, the victories and the larger-than-life personality. What they don't always see are the doubts, failures and emotional consequences that accompany them.

That contrast between the public "Beast" and the human being underneath is one of the documentary's central themes.

Eddie also reflects on his earlier documentary, Eddie Strongman, released on Netflix in 2015.

That film followed a very different period of his life: working long hours, struggling financially, supporting a family and training relentlessly while trying to compete against the strongest men in the world. Eddie believes the documentary helped introduce a much wider audience to strongman and left viewers with one obvious question:

Would Eddie Hall eventually become World's Strongest Man?
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Of course, he did.

But Taming the Beast begins where that success story becomes much more complicated.
Since 2015, Eddie has broken the historic 500 kg deadlift barrier, won World's Strongest Man, appeared in and presented television shows, built businesses and continued expanding his family. But achieving the biggest goal of his life didn't make every problem disappear.

In Eddie's words, that was when many of the problems actually began.

Once you have achieved the dream you've sacrificed everything for, a much harder question follows:
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What do you do next?

One of the more personal sections of the conversation focuses on Eddie's son, Maximus.

Eddie speaks candidly about worrying that his son could follow some of the same emotional paths he experienced himself. He pushes Max hard and describes the physical, competitive relationship they share, but he also makes clear how deeply he cares about him.

For Eddie, one reason the documentary matters is that it gives Maximus the opportunity to see another side of his father—to understand not only what Eddie has achieved, but also the worries, sacrifices and motivations behind those achievements.

That father-and-son dimension adds another layer to the film.
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Taming the Beast is not simply about looking backward at Eddie's career. It's also about what gets passed forward.

Kai and Edwin also ask Eddie about the title of the documentary.

Eddie explains that the title was proposed by Guido Baechler, the film's Lead Executive Producer, and that it immediately felt appropriate.

To the outside world, Eddie is "The Beast": a huge, powerful character associated with lifting extraordinary weights, fighting and pushing physical limits.

But Eddie explains that there is more to him than that public identity.

Sometimes, he says, you have to "tame the beast" in order to live within ordinary society—to control that intensity rather than allowing it to control you.

That interpretation captures the essence of the film beautifully.

The beast isn't simply Eddie's nickname.
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It represents the intensity, ambition, anger, pressure and internal struggles that helped make him successful—but that also had to be understood and controlled.

Toward the end of the discussion, Eddie reminds viewers just how much life the filmmakers had to compress into a single documentary.

Taming the Beast spans approximately eight years of his journey.

That means there are victories, failures, family moments, behind-the-scenes experiences and major life changes that could never all fit into one film.

Eddie describes the documentary as only part of a much larger archive, with substantial additional material captured along the way.

Perhaps that's another reason the film feels so personal.
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It isn't a snapshot of one competition or one year.
It follows a human being changing over time.

Kai Greene and Edwin Mejia give Eddie the space to talk about subjects that don't always fit into traditional strength-sport interviews.

The result is a conversation about what happens after success, how public identity affects private life, the responsibility of fatherhood and what it really means to "tame" the part of yourself that helped make you who you are.
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For viewers of Taming the Beast, the podcast adds valuable context to Eddie Hall's journey and the ideas behind the documentary.

For many fans, Eddie Hall will always be remembered for becoming World's Strongest Man and making history with the first official 500 kg deadlift.

But, as viewers of Taming the Beast already know, those achievements were only one chapter of his story.
In this interview, Eddie reflects on what happened after reaching the biggest goal of his life. Like the documentary, the discussion explores how success doesn't automatically bring fulfilment.

​Once the title had been won, Eddie found himself searching for a new purpose—a journey that eventually led him toward acting, filmmaking, and telling stories that reach beyond strength sports.

What makes this interview particularly engaging is the chemistry between Kai Greene and Eddie Hall.

Both men built careers by pushing themselves to extraordinary physical limits, yet their conversation rarely stays focused on muscles or competition.

Instead, they discuss mindset, discipline, reinvention, and the responsibility that comes with becoming a role model for millions of people around the world.
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Kai's thoughtful questions allow Eddie to speak openly about the challenges of life after elite sport and the importance of continuing to evolve long after the trophies have been won.

The interview also offers viewers another glimpse into the documentary itself.

Eddie explains why Taming the Beast became much more than a film about strength. The title reflects an internal battle that everyone experiences in different ways. While people often associate "the beast" with physical power, Eddie describes it as something far more personal—the fears, doubts, expectations, and struggles that must be confronted throughout life.

That idea sits at the very heart of the documentary.
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As the film follows Eddie beyond the arena, it reveals that true strength isn't simply measured by the weight someone can lift, but by the courage to face vulnerability, adapt to change, and keep moving forward.

Another recurring theme throughout the conversation is legacy.

Records are eventually broken. Titles are eventually won by someone else.
What remains is the impact a person leaves behind.

For Eddie, that legacy now extends beyond strength sports. Through Taming the Beast, he hopes to encourage conversations about mental health, resilience, family, and purpose—topics that resonate far beyond the gym.
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It's a message that Kai Greene clearly appreciates, making this interview one of the most insightful conversations Eddie has given about the documentary.

We're grateful to Generation Iron and Kai Greene for this thoughtful conversation with Eddie Hall.

If you've already watched Taming the Beast, this interview offers valuable additional insight into Eddie's mindset and the ideas that shaped the documentary. If you haven't seen the film yet, it's an excellent introduction to the journey behind one of strength sport's most compelling stories.
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You can also read Generation Iron's original article accompanying the interview on their website.
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Watch the full podcast below.

For most people, Eddie "The Beast" Hall is remembered as the man who conquered the impossible.
World's Strongest Man. Record-breaking deadlifts. Television appearances. A larger-than-life personality built on extraordinary feats of strength.

But as Eddie reveals in a recent interview with Muscle & Fitness Magazine's Director of Communications, Frank Sepe, that's only part of the story.
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The conversation offers a powerful preview of what audiences can expect from Taming the Beast—a feature documentary that looks beyond the titles and trophies to explore the man behind one of strength sport's biggest icons.

In a recent interview with Muscle & Fitness Magazine, Frank Sepe (Director of Communications) sat down with Eddie “The Beast” Hall to discuss the upcoming feature documentary Taming the Beast.
The conversation goes beyond Eddie’s achievements as World’s Strongest Man and dives into the deeper layers explored in the film — including mental health, identity, and the pressures behind public strength. Frank skillfully steers the discussion toward the film’s core themes, creating a thoughtful and engaging exchange that reflects the complexity of Eddie’s story. A strong and focused interview that brings real attention to what Taming the Beast is about.

Early in the interview, Frank Sepe makes it clear that what struck him most about the film wasn't Eddie's athletic accomplishments.

It was the honesty.

Having watched an advance screening, Sepe describes the documentary's exploration of mental health as its most compelling element, explaining how deeply it resonated with his own experiences and with the emotional moments involving Eddie's family.
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That response perfectly captures what Taming the Beast sets out to do. This isn't simply a documentary about becoming World's Strongest Man. It's about everything that happened after the applause faded.

Eddie reflects on the journey that began with his first documentary, which followed his pursuit of the World's Strongest Man title.

That film ended with a question: What happened next?

The answer wasn't as straightforward as anyone expected.

Winning the title that had defined his entire life should have been the happiest moment imaginable. Instead, Eddie describes reaching the summit only to discover there was nothing left to climb.

For years, every decision, every training session, and every sacrifice had been driven by a single purpose. Once that purpose was fulfilled, he found himself struggling with a loss of direction that eventually led to depression.
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It's an experience many high achievers quietly face but rarely discuss.
Taming the Beast explores that reality with remarkable openness.

One of the strongest themes throughout the interview is Eddie's determination to challenge outdated ideas about masculinity and mental health.

People often assume that someone known as "The Beast" must be mentally unbreakable—a giant who lifts enormous weights, shrugs off adversity, and never struggles.

Eddie wants to change that perception.

He explains that being vulnerable isn't a weakness. In many ways, it's one of the strongest things a person can do.
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If someone with his public image can admit to battling depression, anxiety, and self-doubt, perhaps it gives others permission to have those conversations too.
Throughout the interview, he repeatedly returns to one message: people shouldn't suffer in silence.

One of the interview's most revealing moments comes when Eddie talks about conversations with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

Like many people, Eddie had always seen them as larger-than-life figures—symbols of confidence, success, and resilience.

Hearing them openly discuss their own struggles with mental health was both surprising and reassuring.
Their experiences reinforced an important lesson that echoes throughout Taming the Beast: fame, achievement, and success don't make anyone immune to emotional challenges.
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Mental health affects everyone.

Eddie also speaks candidly about the importance of seeking professional support.

While friends and family play an important role, he explains that trained therapists can provide perspectives and tools that are often impossible to find elsewhere.

It's a refreshingly practical message—one that avoids clichés and instead encourages people to view therapy as a sign of strength rather than weakness.
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For Eddie, learning to ask for help became an essential part of rebuilding his life after achieving the biggest goal he'd ever set for himself.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the interview is that Taming the Beast isn't really about lifting extraordinary weights.

It's about carrying invisible ones.

The documentary explores identity, fatherhood, pressure, purpose, and what happens when the world only sees the public persona you've created.

Frank Sepe's thoughtful questions allow Eddie to move beyond headlines and social media clips, revealing a deeply personal side that audiences rarely get to see.

It's an honest conversation that perfectly reflects the spirit of the film itself.

As the release of Taming the Beast approaches, interviews like this remind us why Eddie Hall's story reaches far beyond the world of strength sports.

Because, in the end, the greatest challenge isn't always becoming the strongest man in the world.
Sometimes it's learning to be yourself once you've achieved everything you thought you wanted.
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Watch the full Muscle & Fitness interview and stay tuned for more exclusive stories, behind-the-scenes features, and updates as we count down to the release of Taming the Beast.

As Executive Producer and Producer, my relationship to Taming the Beast is not only professional but deeply personal. The journey began in 2017 and unfolded far differently than originally imagined. A two-year production halt during the pandemic tested the project’s very survival, transforming it into the most demanding film I have ever endured. At several points, it genuinely seemed as though the film would never be finished.


The story itself evolved dramatically over time. What began as a very different narrative slowly reshaped itself through uncertainty, delay, and revision. That process was not without cost. The prolonged production affected my own mental health profoundly. Yet, paradoxically, it was Eddie—and the story we were trying to tell—that helped me endure. In wrestling with his struggles, I found a way to confront my own.

Much of Taming the Beast reflects the lived reality of millions who grapple with mental health challenges, often in silence. I believe deeply that this film carries hope—not through easy answers, but through recognition and honesty. Trusting that vision meant giving the directors full creative freedom, even when the outcome felt uncertain. The finished film affirms that decision.
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What remains is a work shaped by persistence, vulnerability, and belief—belief in the story, in the filmmakers, and in the quiet power of cinema to help us endure what otherwise feels unendurable.

Guido Baechler

One of the central challenges in Taming the Beast was how to portray Eddie’s mental state without turning it into either a diagnosis or an excuse.

From the beginning, we were clear about what we didn’t want to do. We didn’t want to romanticize instability, and we didn’t want to frame mental distress as something that makes harm inevitable or understandable in a simplistic way. At the same time, we wanted to take Eddie’s inner life seriously—to acknowledge that his behavior does not emerge from a vacuum.
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Eddie is a character who struggles to articulate what is happening inside him. Much of what the audience learns about his mental state comes not through explanation, but through pauses, silences, repetition, and moments where language simply fails him. This was a deliberate choice. Mental distress often shows itself not in clarity, but in fragmentation: unfinished thoughts, emotional withdrawal, sudden escalation, and long stretches of quiet that feel heavy rather than empty.

Importantly, Taming the Beast does not attempt to name or label Eddie’s condition. This was not an oversight, but an ethical decision. Labels can be useful in clinical contexts, but in storytelling they can also become reductive, encouraging viewers to “solve” a character rather than sit with them. By leaving Eddie’s mental health unnamed, the film asks the audience to stay with uncertainty—to observe patterns, consequences, and responses rather than searching for a single explanatory key.

Another crucial aspect of Eddie’s portrayal is that his mental health is never presented as a justification for harm. The film holds two truths at the same time: Eddie is struggling, and Eddie is responsible for his actions. These are not contradictory positions. Acknowledging distress does not mean absolving behavior, and refusing to absolve behavior does not require denying distress.

Care, in this context, becomes complicated. The film is interested in the tension between support and containment, between wanting to help someone and recognizing that help alone is not always enough. Eddie is not abandoned by the narrative, but neither is he protected from the consequences of his actions. This balance—between empathy and accountability—was central to how we approached his character.

Ultimately, Taming the Beast is less concerned with explaining Eddie than with asking how we respond to people like him. What does responsible care look like when someone is both vulnerable and dangerous? Where do we draw boundaries, and who gets to draw them? And what happens in the spaces where language, diagnosis, and good intentions fall short?
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These questions don’t have clean answers. The film doesn’t offer them. But it insists that they are worth sitting with.

by: Guido Baechler, Executive Producer