Behind Taming the Beast: Executive Producer Guido Baechler Discusses the Film's Nine-Year Journey

Watch the full interview below.

The original interview was conducted in German by Philipp Portmann for KinowetterTV and Film Guide Schweiz. English AI-generated subtitles are available on the video for international audiences.

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Creating a documentary is never easy. Creating one over nine years—through a global pandemic, production shutdowns, and a complete reinvention of its story—is something else entirely.
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In this exclusive interview with Swiss film journalist Philipp Portmann (KinowetterTV & Film Guide Schweiz), Taming the Beast Lead Executive Producer Guido Baechler shares the remarkable journey behind the documentary and explains why the finished film became so much more than a story about World's Strongest Man Eddie Hall.

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​From Sports Documentary to Human Story

When production began in 2017, the vision was straightforward.

The film, then titled The Beast: When Eddie Met Arnold, was meant to follow Eddie Hall's ambition to meet his lifelong hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger, after becoming World's Strongest Man.

But as filming progressed, something unexpected happened.

Eddie began opening up about deeply personal experiences—including childhood trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Conversations with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone revealed similar struggles behind their own public personas.

According to Baechler, that changed everything.

Rather than making another sports documentary, the team realized they were uncovering a universal story about resilience, identity, and mental health.
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"The film became something much deeper," he explains during the interview.

​Strength Doesn't Mean Invincibility

One of the central themes discussed throughout the conversation is the contrast between public perception and private reality.

Figures like Eddie Hall, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone are often viewed as symbols of strength and confidence. Yet the documentary reveals that even these larger-than-life personalities have faced moments of fear, self-doubt, and emotional hardship.

Baechler believes that this honesty is exactly what gives Taming the Beast its emotional power.
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The documentary challenges the stereotype that strength means never struggling. Instead, it argues that acknowledging those struggles—and asking for help—requires a different kind of courage.

​A Film With a Purpose

Beyond telling Eddie Hall's story, Baechler hopes the documentary can make a real difference.

With Eddie's enormous global audience, the filmmakers believe the film has the potential to reach people who may be facing their own mental health challenges.

If viewers leave the cinema feeling inspired to keep fighting, to seek support, or simply to believe that difficult times can pass, then the documentary will have achieved something far greater than entertainment.
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That message sits at the very heart of Taming the Beast.

​Nine Years of Challenges

The interview also offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of the production itself.

What began as an exciting international documentary soon encountered one obstacle after another. The COVID-19 pandemic brought filming and financing to a halt, forcing years of delays and leaving the future of the project uncertain.

Baechler admits there were moments when he seriously considered walking away from the film altogether.
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Instead, he chose to continue—drawing inspiration from the same perseverance demonstrated by Eddie Hall throughout the documentary.

​A Truly International Production

One of the interview's most interesting revelations is how the project ultimately found new life in Canada.

With much of the Swiss film industry disrupted during the pandemic, post-production moved overseas, where internationally renowned studios joined the project after seeing an early cut of the film.

Sound designers who normally work on major Hollywood productions, along with world-class post-production artists, chose to become involved because they believed in the documentary's message.
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Support also came from the Swiss Embassy in Vancouver, helping the production regain momentum and carry the project across the finish line.

​Looking Ahead

As Baechler explains, Taming the Beast was always intended for the big screen before reaching audiences worldwide.
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Theatrical releases have introduced the documentary to cinema audiences, while international distribution continues to expand. Interest from major streaming platforms reflects the growing recognition that this is far more than a documentary about sport—it's a story with universal relevance.

​Watch the Full Interview

For anyone interested in the making of Taming the Beast, this conversation with Guido Baechler provides an insightful look at the vision, challenges, and determination that shaped the documentary over nearly a decade.
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The interview was originally recorded in German. English AI-generated subtitles are available, making it accessible to viewers around the world.