Inside Taming the Beast: Director Josias Tschanz and Executive Producer Guido Baechler Share the Story Behind the Film

Watch the full interview below.

This conversation was originally recorded in German for the UpInTheSky podcast by the SmartWork Business Club with host Andrea Vögeli. English AI-generated subtitles are available on the video for our international audience.

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What happens when a documentary about the World's Strongest Man evolves into a deeply human story about mental health, identity, and resilience?

That's one of the central questions explored in this thoughtful conversation between Andrea Vögeli, host of the UpInTheSky podcast, Josias Tschanz, director of Taming the Beast, and Guido Baechler, the film's Lead Executive Producer.
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Recorded shortly after the documentary's world premiere in Basel, the interview offers an honest look behind the scenes of a project that took nearly a decade to complete—and why its message has resonated so deeply with audiences.

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​A Premiere That Left a Lasting Impression

For both filmmakers, the world premiere was about much more than finally seeing the film on the big screen.

What stood out most was the audience's emotional response.

People approached the team after the screening to share how deeply they had been moved. Some admitted they had been in tears throughout the film. Others spoke openly about their own experiences with depression and mental health struggles, explaining that Eddie Hall's honesty had given them hope.

One particularly memorable moment came when a retired Mr. Universe thanked the filmmakers, saying that hearing someone like Eddie Hall speak so openly about his personal battles helped him process his own experiences.
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For Baechler, these conversations confirmed that the documentary had achieved exactly what it set out to do.

​More Than a Film About Strength

Director Josias Tschanz explains that Taming the Beast was never intended to be a traditional sports documentary.

After following Eddie Hall for almost eight years, the filmmakers discovered that his greatest challenges had little to do with lifting extraordinary weights.

Instead, they found a man constantly searching for purpose.

Whenever one goal was achieved, another had to take its place—whether becoming World's Strongest Man, pursuing acting, or stepping into the world of mixed martial arts. That relentless drive became a defining part of Eddie's character and an important thread throughout the documentary.
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More importantly, the filmmakers wanted to show the vulnerability behind the public image.
By speaking openly about depression and anxiety, Eddie challenges the stereotype that strength and emotional struggle cannot exist together.

​How the Film Found Its Name

One of the interview's most interesting moments is the story behind the documentary's title.

When production began, the project carried a very different name: The Beast – When Eddie Met Arnold. At that stage, it was envisioned primarily as a sports documentary following Eddie Hall's dream of meeting his lifelong hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As filming progressed, however, the story evolved.

The deeper themes of identity, mental health, and life after success became the true heart of the project.
That transformation inspired a new title: Taming the Beast.
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For a time, the film also carried the subtitle The Emptiness Within, reflecting Eddie's struggle with the emotional void that followed achieving his greatest ambition. Eventually, the filmmakers decided the simpler title captured everything the documentary wanted to say.

​Understanding "The Beast"

Andrea Vögeli points out an interesting contradiction.

After watching the documentary, it's difficult to think of Eddie Hall as a "beast" in the traditional sense. Viewers come to know him as a caring father, a devoted family man, and someone remarkably open about his emotions.

The filmmakers agree—but they also explain that both sides of Eddie are real.
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His fierce competitive nature has driven him to extraordinary achievements. Rivalries, particularly with fellow strongman Hafþór "The Mountain" Björnsson, awaken the intensity that made him one of the strongest athletes in history.

At the same time, away from competition, there is another Eddie entirely: thoughtful, sensitive, and deeply committed to his family.
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The film embraces this duality rather than trying to simplify it.

​Why the Story Resonates

Throughout the interview, one message remains constant.

Taming the Beast isn't simply about Eddie Hall.

It's about the pressure of success, the search for purpose, the importance of vulnerability, and the courage to ask for help.
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Those themes extend far beyond elite sport, making the documentary relevant to anyone who has faced setbacks, self-doubt, or the challenge of redefining themselves after reaching a major life goal.

​Watch the Full Interview

If you're interested in the creative journey behind Taming the Beast, this conversation offers a fascinating perspective from the filmmakers themselves. Josias Tschanz and Guido Baechler discuss not only how the documentary was made, but why they believe its message is more relevant today than ever.
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The interview was originally recorded in German for the UpInTheSky podcast by the SmartWork Business Club. English AI-generated subtitles are available so viewers around the world can follow the conversation.