Actor Joseph Fiennes was set to portray extreme athlete Wim Hof in a biographical film. However, production on the film, which had not yet started filming, has been halted following allegations from Hof’s former partner, Caroline. She has accused Hof of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse during their decade-long relationship. Hof has strongly denied these claims and announced plans to take legal action against the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, which first published the allegations.
A spokesperson for Genesius Pictures confirmed the production is on hold due to the seriousness of the accusations. Alongside Caroline, Hof’s son Noah and her two children from a previous relationship also reported verbal abuse, with one stepson, Christiaan, alleging physical harm.
In a written response to the 44 questions posed by de Volkskrant, Hof denied all allegations, calling the claims of sexual assault “lies” and accusing Caroline of attempting to distort the truth. He stated that she knew how to provoke him, which he claimed was part of a campaign against him. The newspaper’s report was supported by court, medical, and child welfare documentation.
Hof’s eldest son, Enahm, whose mother was Hof’s late first wife Olaya, defended his father, stating the family does not recognize the portrayal in the allegations. He described the reported events as stemming from a challenging time in Hof’s life and called the stories one-sided.
Wim Hof, known for promoting cold exposure and breathing techniques to improve health, has gained global recognition, including hosting the 2022 BBC series Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof, where celebrities trained to endure sub-zero conditions.
