Strongman Hafthor Bjornsson is launching a TV show where regular athletes will get to compete against him.
Bjornsson, who is six-foot-nine and weighs 450 pounds, has his name in the history books for making the heaviest deadlift ever and for winning the 2018 World’s Strongest Man competition but among the broader public, it’s probably fair to say that he’s still best known as Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on HBO’s Game of Thrones.
That’s a nickname that apparently isn’t copyrighted because Bjornsson’s new TV show is called “Beat The Mountain,” wherein athletes vie for a chance to take on one of the greatest strength athletes of our generation — once they take down one another, that is.
The program, according to Wheelhouse Entertainment’s Spoke Studios, is:
“A new competition series that challenges the most powerful, adept athletes in the country to fight it out in unique bouts of strength and endurance — with the ultimate goal of going head to head against Thor.”
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[Related: Check out Hafthor Bjornsson’s 10,000 calorie training diet.]
There’s not a ton of other information available about the show, but it seems to be riding on the success of Thor’s electric 501-kilo deadlift world record.
The President of Wheelhouse Entertainment, a media company responsible for the show, noted,
Thor’s incredible deadlift last weekend made news around the world and rallied millions to share in a stunning athletic achievement. While he’s definitely one of a kind, we see this show as inspiration for anyone that wants to push boundaries or cheer on those who do. No doubt Thor is built to move mountains, but he’s also a disciplined team player and a super-nice guy. We’re excited to partner with him on this new series and to see his fan base expand.
[Related: We tried to eat Hafthor Bjornsson’s normal 8,000 calorie training diet.]
Looking Forward
Bjornsson has said that he will not compete in the 2020 WSM competition set to begin on November 11th, instead dedicating the next year and a half to his September 2021 boxing match with longtime rival Eddie Hall. But fans of his can remain calm — between training for his bout and anticipating which network will gain the right to air Beat The Mountain, we will still be seeing a lot of Bjornsson on our screens.
Feature image via PopCulture Addicts: @popculture_addicts