Taming the Beast, Official Documentary Press Kit
Taming the Beast, Official Documentary Press Kit
Taming the Beast is a feature-length documentary examining the psychological cost of extreme performance, following former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall after his 2017 title win and the identity collapse that followed.
About the film
Eddie Hall is the world’s strongest man, a record-breaking 500 kg lifter and a champion swimmer. Yet the drive to outrun his inner demons pushes him towards the hardest fight of all.
The film explores the contrast between public strength and private struggle, following a man celebrated for physical dominance as he confronts depression, identity loss, and the long-buried mental health challenges of his teenage years.
Short synopsis
Eddie Hall is the world’s strongest man, a record-breaking 500 kg lifter and a champion swimmer. Yet the drive to outrun his inner demons pushes him towards the hardest fight of all.
Long synopsis
Eddie Hall is the World’s Strongest Man, a record-breaking athlete who deadlifted 500 kg and rose to global fame through sheer force of will. But after winning the World’s Strongest Man title in 2017, the victory leaves him unexpectedly hollow. Back home in Stoke-on-Trent, Eddie battles depression, uncertain who he is when strength is no longer enough.
Inspired by his childhood hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eddie travels to Graz, Austria, and later to the Arnold Classic in Ohio, chasing a new direction when winning no longer feels enough. But outside the arena, the question becomes unavoidable: who is Eddie Hall when he’s not the strongest man in the world?
When his long-time rival Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson breaks Eddie’s 500 kg deadlift record at his Thor's Power Gym in 2020 and publicly challenges his legacy, their friendship fractures into a bitter feud. Accusations, media scrutiny, and wounded pride spiral towards a grudge match in Dubai, giving Eddie one final chance to defend his name, redefine himself, and fight for his future.
Key credits
- Subject: Eddie Hall
- Directors: Chris Michael Fretwell, Josias Tschanz
- Producers: Guido Baechler, Josias Tschanz
- Executive Producers: Guido Baechler
- Lead Editor: Mike Jackson
- Music: Sandra Stadler, Bänz Isler
- Runtime: 131 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada
- Language: English
About Eddie Hall
Edward Stephen Hall, known as Eddie “The Beast” Hall, won the World’s Strongest Man title in 2017. He is the first person in history to lift 500 kg and previously set multiple British and world records in strength sports.
Following his competitive career, Eddie transitioned into media, business, and film, amassing over nine million followers across social platforms. He has appeared in feature films including Expend4bles (2023) and is now a prominent voice in mental health awareness.
Directors’ statements
“Taming the Beast is a character study about a man who won the greatest accolade of his career, which ultimately exposed mental health problems he had previously buried as a teen.”
“It fascinated me that the strongest man on the planet struggled with mental health, and what that could mean for men in general was something close to my heart.”
Production notes
- Filmed over nine years across the UK, Europe, North America, and the Middle East
- Developed across a transatlantic collaboration between UK, Swiss, and Canadian teams
- Includes appearances by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone
- Taming the Beast blends a sports documentary with a psychological character study, exploring mental health, depression, (misunderstanding of) toxic masculinity, and the sustaining power of family bonds.
