Florian Munteanu Explains How That Borderlands Mask Made His Fight Scenes ‘Very Challenging’

As a long-time admirer of action movies and their towering stars, I find myself in awe of Florian Munteanu‘s resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. His journey from boxing ring to silver screen is nothing short of inspiring, and his portrayal of larger-than-life characters has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide.

As a hardcore gamer and former boxer (you might recognize me from my roles as Razor Fist in Shang Chi or Viktor Drago in Creed), I’ve always been known for my beefy characters who aren’t afraid to throw down. But behind the scenes, it’s a different story – like when I couldn’t see during filming for my 2024 movie Borderlands! Can you imagine being blind while performing fight scenes? It’s enough to make me shiver just thinking about it, and I can only hope that my costars were as careful as they could be!

In a recent conversation with Florian Munteanu for Borderlands, we discussed his character Krieg’s distinctive mask. To my surprise, he shared that the mask posed more challenges than I had initially thought.

I was perspiring heavily, my sight was blurred, the mask adjusted along with me, it was challenging. Plus, Krieg is known for his harshness. The fight sequences needed to be top-notch. Fighting in movies contrasts greatly from fighting in reality. You can’t strike those around you… Instead, you must keep a clear view and manage distance. Unfortunately, the mask affected my vision. However, we managed to make it function somehow, persevered, and I believe we succeeded.

It’s challenging to hold back your blows when you can’t identify your target! Fortunately, the actors managed to avoid any injuries during filming, or else Florian Munteanu might have accidentally injured some big-name stars. The cast of Borderlands is quite extraordinary, with Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart as its leading figures.

In the second casting choice, Florian Munteanu faced criticism following his assignment as soldier Roland. However, I was assured by Munteanu himself that Kevin Hart’s portrayal will leave fans in awe. Jamie Lee Curtis agreed to join the project upon learning about Cate Blanchett’s involvement, while Jack Black has been promoting his performance as the legendary robot Claptrap for more than a year. Essentially, Munteanu’s cumbersome mask presented potential risks due to his lethal arms, but he explained that they managed to “find a solution.”

I’m thrilled that Munteanu had a great time with his recent project, as it bodes well for his future. There are whispers of a Drago spinoff movie on the horizon, and he hinted to me that his next venture will be quite different – an “indie” project where he’ll stretch his acting muscles beyond the typical tough guy roles. It’s impressive to see him tackle new challenges so early in his career, but if he’s planning a long-term journey, he’ll want to demonstrate his versatility to keep audiences engaged.

I’ve been a huge fan of video games and action-packed adventure stories for as long as I can remember, so when I heard that Borderlands was hitting the big screen, I was beyond excited! Now, I’ve had the chance to catch it in theaters, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

2024-08-10 20:37

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