As a seasoned stunt performer with a career spanning two decades, Daniel Stevens has undoubtedly seen his fair share of action-packed scenes and heart-stopping moments. From soaring through the air on zip lines to gracefully gliding on ice rinks, it’s clear that Stevens’ day-to-day work is far from ordinary.
The current version of the “Deadpool” series is not just thriving in cinemas; it’s been outperforming expectations significantly: “Deadpool & Wolverine” has left audiences stunned at the box office, swiftly surpassing the $1 billion mark within a short span. Although the success can be linked to the dedication of director Shawn Levy, the charisma of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, or the numerous entertaining appearances in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” it’s crucial to acknowledge the film’s stunning and sometimes revolting fight sequences as a significant contributing factor.
Right from the get-go, viewers are treated to a visually appealing and blood-pumping spectacle as Ryan Reynolds’ character, Wade Wilson, takes down a battalion of Time Variance Authority troops. The iconic scene, backed by “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC, showcases numerous incarnations of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Despite being quite lengthy, this sequence remains captivating – a testament to the film’s action-packed nature where each fight feels exhilarating and unique. This is largely due to the skilled stunt performers who breathed life into the film’s technically demanding moments.
Daniel Stevens stands out as a distinguished figure among them, boasting an impressive resume of over 130 stunt performances, many of which are in Marvel films. Despite not bearing a strong resemblance to Hugh Jackman in person, his physique is remarkably fitting, and with the right hairstyle (and occasionally a beard), it becomes challenging to distinguish him from the star during high-octane action sequences. Chances are, you’ve already observed Stevens at work without even realizing it.
He was an Imperial Guard in Revenge of the Sith
Back in 2002, I had the thrill of stepping into the Star Wars universe as a stunt performer for the much-awaited film “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones”. Apart from executing stunts whenever required, I had the honor of standing in for Hayden Christensen, who was legendary as Anakin Skywalker. Fast forward to 2005, I was back on set for “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”, though the specifics about my role as Christensen’s double in that film remain unclear. What is certain, however, is that I got to bring to life one of Emperor Palpatine’s (Ian McDiarmid) iconic Imperial Royal Guards.
In the scene where Yoda confronts Palpatine for their ultimate battle, Stevens, alongside guard Philip Partridge (who has worked on movies like “Shang Chi” and “Thor: Love and Thunder”), is swiftly hurled against a wall and rendered unconscious. On May 4, 2020, Stevens posted a screenshot of this moment on his Instagram, reminiscing about one of his initial accomplishments in the stunt world. He labeled the picture with: “#maythe4thbewithyou @philpartridge and me being tossed by #Yoda in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.”
Stevens has doubled as Wolverine many times
Among all the roles Daniel Stevens has portrayed throughout his career, none required him as much as the stunt double for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. His debut in the character took place in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” a film that received negative feedback from critics and viewers alike, but showcased some remarkable stunt sequences. While Stevens assumed Jackman’s role, Sam Hargrave stepped up for Liev Schreiber’s Victor Creed/Sabretooth (and if Hargrave’s name seems familiar, it might be because he later directed the popular “Extraction” films featuring Chris Hemsworth on Netflix).
In the movie’s climactic clash among Wolverine, Sabretooth, and an early version of Deadpool (portrayed by Scott Adkins instead of Ryan Reynolds), extensive preparations were made to create this intriguing scene, as evidenced by behind-the-scenes footage shared by Stevens on his Instagram account.
In these films – “The Wolverine,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Logan,” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Stevens consistently took over for Hugh Jackman. Moreover, he’s also performed stunts on behalf of Jackman in various non-Marvel productions, like standing in for the legendary pirate Blackbeard in the family adventure film “Pan” and the detective Nick Bannister in the sci-fi suspense movie “Reminiscence.”
He appeared as Boris the Animal in Men in Black 3
Daniel Stevens quickly found acceptance within the growing circle of directors in the comic book movie industry, leading to his involvement in both “Superman Returns” (2006) and “Iron Man” (2008). In the latter, he stood in for Robert Downey Jr., a role he would reprise on subsequent occasions. After a series of high-profile assignments, Stevens was chosen to double for Jemaine Clement in “Men in Black 3,” where he portrayed Boris the Animal, the movie’s main villain.
Due to the extensive use of facial prosthetics and costumes that transformed both Clement and Stevens into Boris, it allowed the former to act in certain scenes with the camera directly on him. In a scene where Boris launches an attack on an office, Stevens is virtually identical to Clement. He playfully called this action his “most perilous stunt work” on TikTok, as all he had to do was enter through a window, pretend to fire lethal needles from his hands, and then exit the same way.
It wasn’t unexpected that it was Stevens portraying Boris during the movie’s climactic fight sequence with Agents K (Josh Brolin) and J (Will Smith). The scene included hanging from pipes and traversing narrow parts of the set. In a 2022 Instagram post, Stevens looked back on this moment, acknowledging Rick Baker, a skilled veteran special make-up effects creator, for designing the prosthetic mask he wore.
He was Green Arrow in the Superhero Fight Club promo
Initially, it was quite unusual to see characters from one Arrowverse show appearing on another. The idea of a unified DC Universe on TV seemed far-fetched when “The Flash” debuted, as it generally felt disconnected from “Arrow”. However, as the number of superheroes in both shows expanded, the CW provided viewers with a glimpse of what could potentially happen by organizing the iconic Superhero Fight Club.
In a brief scene, Stephen Amell’s character Oliver Queen introduced Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen to the secret fighting club, a hidden arena where characters from the Arrowverse engaged in combat with their adversaries at that time. The preview garnered such a massive response that they produced a follow-up to introduce Supergirl and Martian Manhunter. In the initial clip, Stuntman Stevens stood in for Amell, wearing the Green Arrow suit to face off against Ra’s al Ghul (the main antagonist of that “Arrow” season, portrayed by Matt Nable). Although this moment was significant in superhero entertainment history, it would soon be overshadowed by another epic superhero fight – one which Stevens also contributed to crafting.
He donned the Iron Man suit for Captain America: Civil War
Reflecting back on “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (and that’s it, we swear), you might recall the initial skirmish between Logan and Victor, where Logan ended up slamming headfirst into a metal container. Fast forward to 2009, Sam Hargrave and Daniel Stevens replicated this action in a different setting for “Captain America: Civil War”, using a concrete pillar instead of a metal cylinder. In the later film, Stevens represented a Crossbones henchman wreaking havoc at a Nigerian research facility, while Hargrave stood in for Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers to put a stop to him. This was just one of the many roles Stevens took on in the movie.
In 2008, I put on the Iron Man suit for my first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Later, I was called upon to reprise the role in “Civil War,” though you might not recognize me under all that armor. I provided the motion capture and physical stunts for Iron Man during the epic airport battle, creating the movements you saw on screen. Towards the end of the film, I switched sides, portraying Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the fight against Iron Man. Since Iron Man spends much of that sequence in flight, it seems I had a chance to take a few punches and tumbles for actor Sebastian Stan during his battles.
Stevens doubled for the God of Thunder in Thor: Ragnarok
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 2017 release “Thor: Ragnarok,” Daniel Stevens took on the task of standing in for Chris Hemsworth as Thor. This film not only boosted the popularity of director Taika Waititi and the title character, but also sparked a fan fervor (though its subsequent sequel, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” stirred some discontent among fans, tempering that initial enthusiasm). In the movie’s opening scene, Stevens portrayed Thor as he was held captive by the demon lord Surtur, voiced by Clancy Brown, who played multiple roles within the MCU. To depict Thor being dropped and swung from a massive chain, filmmakers fitted Stevens with a harness and filmed the fall using practical effects. When sharing some behind-the-scenes footage on Instagram, Stevens humorously described it as his “best attempt at mimicking a yo-yo.”
In the sequel, the seasoned stuntman once again assumed Thor’s role for certain scenes on Sakaar, particularly when he squared off against his coworker, The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), in a fierce gladiatorial contest. During this planetary battle, Stevens utilized a life-sized replica of the character to better immerse himself in the scene. Moreover, during the pre-production phase for “Avengers: Infinity War,” he also had the opportunity to portray Thor more authentically, enacting scenes where he used Thor’s weapon’s teleportation abilities extensively, which was a new development for the God of Thunder in Wakanda.
He took blows for Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy
Upon arriving on the set of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Daniel Stevens wasn’t just greeted by Hugh Jackman; director Shawn Levy and producer-star Ryan Reynolds were also there, welcoming back a cherished teammate. Prior to this, Stevens had already collaborated extensively with both Levy and Reynolds on the 2021 action comedy movie “Free Guy.” If you haven’t seen the film (released amid COVID-19 restrictions), it stars Reynolds as an upbeat NPC who gains self-awareness within a chaotic, open-world video game reminiscent of “Grand Theft Auto.”
In this action-packed tale, as my character, Reynolds’ Guy, garners more adoration from gamers and teams up with the wronged game developer Millie (Jodie Comer), we find ourselves squarely in the crosshairs of Antwan, the shady studio executive played by none other than Taika Waititi. To silence us, Antwan unleashes a series of digital threats, one of which is the monstrous counterpart to my character, dubbed Dude – a formidable fusion of Reynolds’ and bodybuilder Aaron W. Reed’s physiques.
Despite the majority of the remaining scenes appearing to be executed using regular weapons, visual effects, and Green Screen techniques, Stevens played a part in setting up some shots prior to Reynolds’ on-camera action – most memorably capturing Dude’s fist colliding with Captain America’s shield. In another scene within the movie, Stevens and Hayley Wright (who doubled for both Comer and Anya Taylor-Joy in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”) performed a daring stunt together, leaping off a ledge and plummeting several stories through the air.
He played the young White Death in Bullet Train
Working alongside directors well-versed in the stunt world must be a dream realized for stunt performers, and that’s exactly what happened for Daniel Stevens during the 2022 movie “Bullet Train.” Directed by David Leitch, this high-octane action film starring Brad Pitt showcased a wealth of fight scenes and stunts, mostly taking place within the confines of a speeding train. While most of the action was shared among the ensemble cast, “Bullet Train” provided an uncommon opportunity for Stevens to shine in a solo acting role.
Michael Shannon doesn’t make his appearance as the menacing Russian mob boss, White Death, until near the end of the movie. However, Timothy Olyphant portrays this character in a flashback scene, but he is hidden under a mask. This scene reveals how White Death came to power over the Japanese Yakuza. He launched an attack on one of their strongholds, defeating multiple members of their group in brutal hand-to-hand combat simultaneously.
On Instagram, Stevens gave a peek backstage showing how he and four other skilled stunt performers managed to carry out a significant part of the fight in one scene using just a baton against warriors brandishing swords. He humorously titled the video, “Trying to convince myself I can take on these 4 tough guys,” while acknowledging his collaborators: Jeff Imada, Yoshi Sudarso, Yoshio Iizuka, and Tsuyoshi Abe.
Stevens was the stunt coordinator on Spirited
In the same year as his role in “Bullet Train,” Daniel Stevens teamed up with Ryan Reynolds again on the set of the Christmas musical comedy “Spirited.” In this movie, Reynolds portrays a morally questionable media consultant who resembles a contemporary Scrooge and needs spiritual redemption, played by Will Ferrell as the Ghost of Christmas Present. As they journey through various time periods in an attempt to reform the man’s ways (or at least make him less evil), they encounter numerous hazards. This necessitated careful oversight from Stevens, who was the film’s stunt coordinator.
In his career, Stevens had taken on stunt roles in smaller projects and secondary photography on larger sets, but “Spirited” presented him with the most significant challenge yet in terms of responsibility. To complicate matters, he simultaneously returned to his duties on “Free Guy” and stood in for Reynolds as a stunt double in multiple scenes. One scene had him being launched high into the air and landing harshly on a fashionable but unyielding couch (“Crashing into something like a metaphor,” he titled a behind-the-scenes video of the stunt on Instagram). Another involved zip-lining through the air, skating briefly on an ice rink before eventually falling backward. Such feats are commonplace for a top Hollywood stunt double.
He’s played several different characters in The Mandalorian
In a full-circle career moment for Daniel Stevens, the stunt performer got to return to the “Star Wars” universe almost two decades after it arguably launched his career in the blockbuster stunt world: He played various Mandalorian warriors in the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian.” Stevens has portrayed at least three different Mandalorians on the show, which explores the colorful history and various competing quasi-religious factions of the beloved “Star Wars” civilization popularized by Boba Fett in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” and Dave Filoni’s animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Although it’s not definitive, photos on Stevens’ Instagram account depict him donning various armor suits. He wears a red and green suit of armor, another dark green one that appears different from Boba Fett’s, and the blue-gray armor reminiscent of Bo-Katan Kryze’s unit. In the series episode “Chapter 12: The Siege,” directed by Carl Weathers, Stevens portrays an unmasked character – a security officer stationed at an Imperial base that Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his team infiltrate.
What is Stevens’ favorite ever stunt?
Among many impressive feats performed by Daniel Stevens throughout his career, one stands out as particularly noteworthy for him. In the 2010 film “Unstoppable,” the daring Australian took on the role of Chris Pine’s stunt double. The movie tells the story of a runaway train without an operator. A thrilling sequence in this film showcases Pine’s character leaping from a moving pick-up truck onto the speeding train, traveling at 40 miles per hour. Despite the stunt coordinator’s insistence that Stevens wear a safety line for the jump, he chose to perform it without one. As he explained on the Life in the Credits podcast, “I preferred to execute it myself without any lines. If I were tied to the truck and jumped off and something went wrong, such as a tire blowout, then that safety line would have become a hazard.”
In the heat of the action as a gamer, I found myself executing an exhilarating stunt where I leapt between train cars and managed to clutch onto a railing. During my rehearsal, my helmet brushed against the tracks, but I decided to go for it anyway without it. The applause from Pine was music to my ears as he was left speechless by my daredevilry. In an exclusive behind-the-scenes interview, he reminisced about witnessing me pull off the truck-to-train jump a staggering five times. According to him, I took a tumble on the first try and skidded along the ground momentarily. He shared that it took all my upper body might to bounce back up, but he couldn’t help but admire my incredible performance. In short, Pine was left in awe of my unparalleled efforts on set.
Read More
- BODEN PREDICTION. BODEN cryptocurrency
- GHST PREDICTION. GHST cryptocurrency
- BETA PREDICTION. BETA cryptocurrency
- STRD PREDICTION. STRD cryptocurrency
- Mango Markets Exploiter Found Guilty Of Fraud And Manipulation
- GBP EUR PREDICTION
- MATIC PREDICTION. MATIC cryptocurrency
- LOOKS PREDICTION. LOOKS cryptocurrency
- BRN/USD
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
2024-08-14 17:31