Why ‘The Night Agent’s Gabriel Basso Terrifies an MMA Legend

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If you found Gabriel Basso from “The Night Agent” to be impressively powerful on screen, it’s worth noting that he’s such a tough actor that he even unnerved an MMA legend. Yes, the same guy who played the nerdy kid with glasses in “Super 8”. In a field where illusions like trick photography, fast cuts, digital face-swaps, and numerous stunt performers are commonplace, some top-tier actors can feel awkward about faking their abilities.

He’s used everything he’s learned during his brief tenure on “The Night Agent”. However, it’s the intense action scenes that seem to bring out his nervous traits. Actors don’t just learn the positions and cues for each scene, but also need to convincingly portray a fake punch to the gut – something he apparently didn’t master during his early acting days on “iCarly” on Nickelodeon. To create more impactful fight scenes, he’s pushing his body to its limits, and as a result, he’s gaining a devoted fanbase, some of whom weren’t even aware he was an actor.

The Stunt-Double Dilemma

Moving away from over-reliance on computer-generated imagery for dramatic effect and focusing more on detailed fight sequences (without excessive shaky camera work), a new breed of action heroes is stepping forward, eager to prove they are not novices in this field. Contrary to his early days on Nickelodeon’s iCarly where he portrayed Fake Freddie as Basso, this individual sees the action genre as a delicate act of juggling authenticity with protecting the actors, often sacrificing the full force of the performance for the sake of safety and realism.

In my perspective, Basso emphasizes the importance of stunt doubles due to maintaining transparency with the audience. As I prepare for Season 2 of my Netflix show, I shared this thought with Time, “I view it as a thousand small deceptions. If we’re consistently hiding something, at some point, viewers will become disinterested and think, ‘Enough is enough, I’m not being shown the truth.'” This might be why I feel at ease on the canvas, where I can fully immerse myself without needing to convince anyone of my authenticity. Actions, such as punches, speak for themselves.

“You’re Gonna Kill a Guy”

As a passionate moviegoer, let me tell you, this actor is downright chilling when it comes to method acting. He’s the one that sends shivers up my spine in the acting world right now. And trust me on this, you don’t have to take my word for it – just ask Bas Rutten, also known as “The King of the Liver Shot.”

This retired martial artist didn’t mince words when he called the actor a “freak” after watching him spar. In fact, during an episode of The Joe Rogan Podcast in 2023, Rutten shared his concerns that Basso might underestimate others due to his laid-back demeanor and warned him against getting into fights with any random drunk at a nightclub or bar who challenges him.

I warned, ‘If you engage in a street fight, avoid hitting the person in the head. You could potentially cause serious harm because he hits so forcefully.’

When a UFC legend like Bas Rutten praises someone’s striking and technical skills, it shows that he is truly skilled. In this day and age when action stars such as Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves are pushing the boundaries of physical prowess, Basso also wants to prove his mettle. As per Rutten, one of the most respected figures in MMA, Basso possesses an unusual level of strength and learns techniques quicker than many professionals.

Taking the Hobby Too Far?

Before you assume this is merely Rutten boasting about his friend’s new TV show and complimenting his preferred pupil, let me clarify that Basso has actively sought out tough battles to demonstrate his fighting abilities in the ring. As advertised, there exists footage of the ex-child actor knocking down an invincible kickboxer during a match, agreeing to fight without any preparation or prior amateur experience. From what can be seen, he hardly seemed to perspire. Rutten was astounded, not entirely grasping the arsenal of skills and punching power that Basso displayed.

It’s not at all likely that he could defeat George St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, or other UFC Hall of Famers in their respective weight classes. However, as an actor, he can hold his own against veteran tough guys like Van Damme and Rourke from the old school. He certainly deserves more substantial roles beyond the octagon. Here’s hoping Basso doesn’t let success get to his head too much. No disrespect intended to Mickey, though.

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2025-02-10 04:03