Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx’s Lives Were at Risk During the Making of Netflix’s ‘Back in Action’

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The title of Netflix’s latest film, “Back in Action,” holds a layer of meaning. On one hand, it symbolizes Cameron Diaz’s return to the big screen after a decade-long hiatus, clearly indicating she’s back and ready to act again. Similarly, director Seth Gordon is also making a comeback with this film, as he hasn’t released a narrative feature since 2017’s “Baywatch.”

On another level, the title can also allude to the numerous obstacles the production faced during filming. The team had multiple setbacks before they were finally able to get back on track, as director Gordon shared in a recent interview with MovieWeb. He and his leading actor came close to tragedy, and there were other reasons for halting production as well. In his words, “We’ve all had to come back in action to bring this film to life.

Initially, during the first month of filming, a surgery had been scheduled for me. However, fearing the loss of Glenn and Jamie Demetriou due to a narrow working window, I made a rash decision and chose to continue working on set instead. As soon as we went on Christmas break, my gallbladder ruptured, necessitating an emergency surgery. Looking back, I’m not regretful; it seems like the right call since they both delivered stellar performances in the movie. If given the chance, I would make that decision again.

Later on, Jamie Foxx’s shocking health issue arose. At that point, Gordon wasn’t aware of what had befallen Foxx or the gravity of his condition, and neither was Netflix for a while. Consequently, towards the end of its filming, Back in Action essentially paused because of Foxx’s absence. However, there was enough footage available for Gordon to proceed with editing and post-production of the movie. Yet, he had no clue as to when, or if, Foxx would rejoin to complete the film. So, what were his emotions at that time? Gordon shared with MovieWeb:

Though it wasn’t without fear, I didn’t find it hopeless. I was worried about him, as I’ve experienced similar situations within my family. He’s opened up about it in his Netflix special, so it’s no longer a secret, but it’s complicated brain-related issues that necessitated surgery. It’s one of the scariest kinds of operations to undergo. Unfortunately, during the production process, a dear friend of mine lost their life to brain cancer – a completely different matter, yet still involving the brain. It was a tough time.

In this situation, we’d filmed approximately 85% to 90% of the film, and I was concerned about him. However, I also had a specific aspect to concentrate on. It wasn’t desperation, just worry for him. Then, unexpected events occurred. When he regained his health, which was almost miraculous, we were able to continue filming. So this project certainly had its fair share of challenges.” Gordon summarized.

We persisted through thick and thin, consistently pushing forward without giving up. Netflix didn’t pause our progress at any point, instead encouraging us to carry on. They essentially said, ‘Continue your efforts, everything is fine. We’ll simply wait for whatever comes up.’ And since visual effects require a significant amount of time, it’s debatable whether it had much impact on the timeline, given that they take so long to complete.

Getting Cameron Diaz Back in Action

Despite Cameron Diaz’s recent retirement, Gordon asserted that her acting abilities and skills were as sharp as ever. From the get-go, she was fully prepared and ready to deliver an impressive performance, according to him. In truth, during preproduction, she was actively training for the stunt scenes, ensuring she was at peak readiness by the first day of shooting. Any initial nerves she might have had were quickly alleviated.

“She’s absolutely brilliant and excels at her work. It’s an absolute joy to collaborate with her, and I mean that genuinely. Moreover, she serves as a source of inspiration because it’s clear that the impact she has on a project is significant. The way they both set the stage and exhibit thoughtfulness, care, diligence, and professionalism is truly remarkable.

Gordon gives Foxx all the credit for suggesting Cameron Diaz for the role. In his words, “Foxx was the one who thought about Cameron initially, and he kept it a secret from me at first because I believe he didn’t want to raise expectations. He didn’t want to make anyone hopeful unnecessarily. He didn’t want to be unfair to her since she’s supposed to be retired,” explained Gordon.

It seems to me that he had a gut feeling or intuition about the potential of the project, which resonated deeply with her current state. Moreover, he’s quite astute and managed to arrange everything appropriately, leading to its success.

I must say, the success of “Back in Action” truly exceeded my expectations! If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, here’s your opportunity: Check it out on Netflix via the link provided below: [Netflix Link]

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2025-01-22 08:31