Katcy Stephan SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains light spoilers for stunt sequences from “The Fall Guy,” in theaters now. Leaping from a high-flying helicopter, being engulfed in flames, and rolling a car over eight and a half times—while these heart-stopping moments may be the stuff of nightmares for most, they’re just another day on the job for the daredevil stunt performers at the heart of David Leitch’s “The Fall Guy.” Ryan Gosling’s Colt Seavers is repeatedly put through the wringer in Universal’s action comedy based on the 1980s TV series of the same name. Lucky for the Oscar-nominated actor, a team of pros was there to do the heavy lifting. Logan Holladay, who performed driving stunts (and set a Guinness world record), Ben Jenkin, who willingly got lit on fire and hit by a car, and Troy Brown, who plummeted 150 feet for an epic fall, sat down with Variety to share their experience on “The Fall Guy,” and why the film’s representation of the stunt community is so vital.
How ‘The Fall Guy’ Landed Taylor Swift and Kiss for its Soundtrack — and the Alanis Morissette Karaoke Moment That Didn’t Make the Final Cut
04.05.2024 - 01:31 / variety.com
SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses plot elements from “The Fall Guy,” now playing in theaters. Long before Taylor Swift embarked on the Eras Tour, director David Leitch and producer Kelly McCormick had the idea to use “All Too Well” as a key moment in “The Fall Guy.” McCormick, a self-professed Swiftie, and Leitch were trying to find a fresh and contemporary song to fit into a particular scene. In the film, Ryan Gosling plays Colt Seavers, one of Hollywood’s top stuntmen. After experiencing an on-set accident, he falls off the grid for 18 months, ghosting aspiring director Jody (Emily Blunt), someone he also happens to be dating.
The two awkwardly reunite on the set of her directorial debut, and when they wrap their first day, Colt retreats to his pickup truck reflecting on happier times with Jody. McCormick thought a Swift song would be perfect for that scene, and even Gosling agreed. The challenge was deciding which one made the best fit.
“Taylor’s hard to put in a movie because she’s a storyteller,” McCormick says. “So then putting images on top of the story she’s telling when you’re listening to every single word is really hard to do.” The lyrics to Swift’s 2012 song “All Too Well” evoked exactly what Colt was feeling in that moment – extreme heartbreak. He’s someone who has lost it all.
As the song plays, Jody catches him singing along. She asks, “Have you been crying to Taylor Swift?” You bet he was. Though the film is hitting theaters as Swift Mania reaches a fever pitch, it should be noted that scene was written and the rights to the song were secured before the Eras Tour became the hottest concert (and movie) ticket on the planet.
‘Bullet Train’ ending explained: Which characters survive the journey?
Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt, zooms onto Netflix this week, but which characters survive the journey’s climax?The film sees five assassins board a Japanese bullet train bound for Kyoto, only to find that their seemingly separate missions are mysteriously linked by circumstances beyond their control.Pitt stars as Ladybug, a killer who is suffering from anxiety and considers himself unlucky. Sandra Bullock plays his handler Maria Beetle, while Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry play Tangerine and Lemon, two hapless twin assassins.Meanwhile, Andrew Koji’s Yuichi Kimura is hunting down his son’s attacker, who we later learn is The Prince, played by Joey King.The Prince is the estranged daughter of the Yakuza crime lord The White Death (Michael Shannon), and she is attempting to blackmail Yuichi into killing The White Death, for whom Yuichi works.Bullet Train was directed by David Leitch, the former stunt man who has also helmed the current release The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.
‘The Fall Guy’ Expands To $65M WW, ‘Garfield’ Pounces On $22M In Early Offshore Bow – International Box Office
After debuting early last weekend, Universal’s The Fall Guy expanded to 78 overseas markets during its sophomore session, adding $25.4M for a running total of $36.9M at the international box office. That’s in line with Bullet Train and above The Lost City at the same point in release. Globally, the David Leitch-directed action romance is at $65.4M.
Box Office: ‘The Fall Guy’ Kicks Off Summer Movie Season With Disappointing $28 Million Debut
Rebecca Rubin Senior Film and Media Reporter “The Fall Guy,” an action-comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, kicked off the summer movie season without much sizzle. The film, backed by Universal and directed by David Leitch, fell just short of expectations with $28.5 million from 4,002 North American venues in its debut. Heading into the weekend, “The Fall Guy” was projected to earn at least $30 million to $40 million.
How ‘The Fall Guy’ Went From Dark Noir to Maximalist Love Story by ‘Using the Language of Stunts’
Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.com Action romance is a tricky genre to master — it requires the right balance of heart and spectacle. But when done well, à la “True Lies” or “Mr. and Mrs.
Steve Martin ‘SNL’ Sketch Still Stands Out For Seth Meyers And The Lonely Island
Steve Martin‘s 2006 Saturday Night Live hosting assignment still stands out for Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone. But not for the right reasons.
Box Office: Ryan Gosling’s ‘The Fall Guy’ Lands $10.4 Million Opening Day
J. Kim Murphy The summer box office isn’t exactly starting with a bang. Universal’s action-romance “The Fall Guy,” starring Ryan Gosling as a Hollywood stuntman courting a rising director played by Emily Blunt, earned $10.4 million from 4,002 locations on its opening day, a figure that includes $3 million and change from preview screenings.
How Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ ended up being in ‘The Fall Guy’
Ryan Gosling‘s new action comedy The Fall Guy has revealed how Taylor Swift‘s song ‘All Too Well’ appeared in the film.Directed by David Leitch (Bullet Train), the film follows a stuntman (Gosling) who is working on his ex-girlfriend’s (Emily Blunt) directorial debut, only to find himself involved in a conspiracy connected to the film’s leading man.In the film, it is revealed that Gosling’s character Colt Seavers ghosted Blunt’s Jody Moreno 18 months prior after he sustained a devastating injury to his back and pushed everyone around him away.After their difficult first day filming together, Colt ends up crying to ‘All Too Well’ in his car. Jody then sees him and taps on his window, asking: “Have you been crying to Taylor Swift?”“Doesn’t everyone?” he replies.“We were at a test screening, and a major Swiftie raised her hand and said, ‘That was the perfect use of a Taylor cue.
David Leitch Talks Around Bailing On The ‘Jurassic Park’ Reboot & Having “Creative Freedom”
The 2024 blockbuster season kicks off in earnest this weekend with David Leitch‘s “The Fall Guy” now in theaters. But their latest film wasn’t the only thing Leitch and his wife and creative partner Kelly McCormick spoke about while on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast this week.
Fifth Season Sets ‘Button Man’; ‘The Fall Guy’s David Leitch & Kelly McCormick In Talks To Turn Famed John Wagner Graphic Novel Into TV Series
EXCLUSIVE: As they open The Fall Guy, a TV series turned feature, director David Leitch and his 87North producing partner Kelly McCormick are eyeing a beloved graphic novel for a TV series.
‘The Fall Guy’ Raises $3M+ In Previews – Friday AM Box Office
Universal teed off summer last night with 87 North/David Leitch’s Ryan Gosling Emily Blunt action romance, The Fall Guy, which made $3.15M from showtimes that began at 5PM yesterday as well as Wednesday advance screenings. The movie is only suppose to do around $35M for the weekend, maybe $40M. That’s not your typical start to summer, but we’re in this predicament due to the strikes’ delay on feature films.
David Leitch Says He Pitched Brad Pitt As Cable & ‘Deadpool’ Meetings Were Initially About ‘X-Force’
Ever since co-directing the “John Wick” franchise in 2014 and then splitting off on his own from partner Chad Stahelski, filmmaker David Leitch has been one of the most in-demand action directors on the planet. Almost taking the most recent “Jurassic World” reboot before rethinking it ultimately, since ‘John Wick 1,’ Leitch has directed a “Fast And Furious” spin-off, “Atomic Blonde,” “Bullet Train,” “Deadpool 2,” and his upcoming film “The Fall Guy” which opens tomorrow and stars Ryan Reynolds and Emily Blunt.
Ryan Gosling’s The Fall Guy Criticized For THIS 'Distasteful' Joke About Johnny Depp & Amber Heard!
The Fall Guy hasn’t even been officially released yet and it’s already facing criticism.
‘The Fall Guy’ slammed for ‘distasteful’ joke about exes Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
user on X , formerly Twitter, wrote.Another person called it “distasteful” and wrote, “It’s 2024, why are we writing these kinds of lines into movies? nasty work.”“I have absolutely no idea how I missed this when I saw it,” another viewer said. “What an unconscionable and disgusting decision; shame on [director] David Leitch, the writing team, and whoever else contributed to the telling of this ‘joke.’”“Damn what the f–k i was so excited for this movie now that’s gone,” another fan remarked.
Here’s every song on ‘The Fall Guy’ soundtrack
Ryan Gosling plays a veteran stuntman opposite Emily Blunt in action comedy The Fall Guy.Directed by David Leitch (Bullet Train), the film follows a stuntman who is working on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut, only to find himself involved in a conspiracy connected to the film’s leading man.Other cast members include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu and Winston Duke.The film’s score is composed by Dominic Lewis, who previously collaborated with director David Leitch on Bullet Train.His other past credits include animated films Peter Rabbit and Free Birds, along with Amazon series The Man In The High Castle and Christmas action comedy Violent Night.A key track throughout the film is ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’ by KISS, which is also covered by Yungblud for the soundtrack.
Emily Blunt Shimmers in Orange Dress at 'The Fall Guy' L.A. Premiere Alongside Ryan Gosling
Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling are stepping out for the premiere of their new movie!
‘The Fall Guy’ L.A. Premiere: Ryan Gosling Calls Film A “Love Letter” & A “Giant Campaign To Get Stunts An Oscar”
Ryan Gosling stars in The Fall Guy and during the L.A. premiere of the David Leitch-directed film called the movie “love letter to the stunt community.”
Box Office Preview: ‘The Fall Guy’ Eyes $30 Million-Plus Debut as Summer Movie Season Revs Up
Brent Lang Executive Editor Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, two essential ingredients in the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, will leave Barbieland and Los Alamos behind them as they team up for “The Fall Guy.” But will audiences turn up in force to see the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” stars when their new action comedy debuts this weekend? Well, “The Fall Guy” isn’t going to hit those films’ box office heights, but it should have no trouble topping charts as it kicks off the summer movie season. The film is expected to earn north of $30 million, with some rival studio executives pegging the opening at between $35 million to $40 million. The catch is that movie wasn’t cheap to produce, boasting a healthy budget of $130 million, so “The Fall Guy” will need strong word-of-mouth if it’s going to leg it out on the long path to profitability.
Ryan Gosling Makes Surprise Appearance at Universal Studios Stunt Show for 'Fall Guy' Promo - Watch Video!
Ryan Gosling plays a stuntman in his new movie The Fall Guy and he took his stunt skills to a special new show at Universal Studios!
‘The Fall Guy’ Writer Details How Hollywood’s Biggest Stunts Inspired the Movie: ‘We Are Unashamedly Playing the Hits’
Todd Gilchrist editor Ostensibly a big-screen reboot of the 1980s television series of the same name, “The Fall Guy” is actually director and former stunt performer David Leitch’s love letter to both his wife, producer Kelly McCormick, and the undersung art of stunt work — only not always in that order. Working closely with screenwriter and executive producer Drew Pearce, who previously scripted his “Fast and the Furious” spinoff “Hobbs & Shaw,” Leitch creates a clearinghouse of gobsmacking stunts (some truly record-breaking) while chronicling the tumultuous relationship between veteran stunt man Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) and first-time director Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt).