Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds may play the titular characters in The Hitman’s Bodyguard, but it’s Salma Hayek who steals the show.
That, according to legendary stunt coordinator Greg Powell, who worked with all three actors on the action comedy, out on home entertainment today.
Powell has handled action on films ranging from the Harry Potter series to Skyfall to Avengers: Age of Ultron, so he definitely knows what he’s talking about.
Hitman’s is non-stop action from start to finish, punctuated by plenty of laughs.
“An action comedy is rare these days,” Powell explained to FANDOM exclusively. “You either get one or the other these days. [Director] Patrick Hughes did an amazing job of bringing it all together.”
Salma Surprises
And while Jackson and Reynolds are action pros, having starred in many comic book films (The Avengers, Deadpool) and other projects, it was Hayek who was a revelation.
Arguably the most exciting — and graphic — scene in the entire film belonged to the Latina actress. Watch it below, but be warned it’s heavy on the gore.
We warned you about the violence, didn’t we?
No stunt doubles were used in the Honduras bar fight scene (and without spoiling, a reprise at the end); that is all Hayek.
“She was fantastic,” Powell gushed. “Absolutely brilliant. She did them all herself.”
Hayek was super committed to character.
“She was actually annoyed with the company to be honest with you, because they didn’t let us know she was in town to do more rehearsals. Her rehearsal time was very tight but she turned up and was keen to do the whole lot.”
“It wasn’t just us telling her ‘this is the fight.’ We told her what we put together amongst ourselves but she put her own style, her own moves, into it. I don’t think she could’ve done better than what she done.”
As for the graphic gore, Powell admitted it pushed even his limits.
“When we talked about it, we thought ‘this is a bit too much.’ But that’s what [Hughes] wanted and we certainly wanted to give them that sort of stuff.”
Powell even got involved with the bar fight himself.
“Ii was standing one side of the camera and everyone was fighting,” the stunt coordinator recalled. “I called one of the guys over and hit him over the head with a bottle. It was just my hand coming in [frame]. Tt didn’t matter because there were so many people fighting.”
That Crazy Chase Scene
As great as the bar scenes were, the most challenging action Hitman’s Bodyguard sequence to shoot was the climactic boat chase with the motorbike and cars.
“Speed boats in canals, narrow roads, millions of people watching and walking across the street, it was very challenging,” Powell explained. “Even thought was had security and roadblocks, you have a lot of people to look after. You have to be extra vigilant with the surroundings you’re working in.”
Thankfully, Powell worked with his experienced stunt pros and Reynolds and Jackson.
“It’s the second time I’ve worked with Ryan,” said Powell. “I worked with him on Safe House. The thing I like about Ryan is that he’s interested in what’s going on and why its going on.”
The actor is known as a goof on camera, but behind the scenes it’s very different.”He’s very serious, not moody serious, but with stunts. He looks at his double to make sure his costume is right, he goes into it very professionally.”
Powell says Jackson has a different approach.
“He sits there watching. Observing. He know exactly what’s going on and exactly how he’s going to play the scene. he doesn’t miss too much when he’s on set.”
Powell describes Hitman’s Bodyguard one of his favorites. “I wish all films were like that because it was fantastic. It’s funny, it has great action in it, it’s what people go to the cinemas for.”
Check out all the action in The Hitman’s Bodyguard on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital today.
