David Leitch, the director of the just-released Bullet Train, took some time out of his busy schedule to promote his next action thriller The Fall Guy, in which Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) plays a Hollywood stuntman who also happens to be a bounty hunter. In the near future, production will begin shooting in Australia. We’ve had very little information since Gosling was confirmed as the lead in May, so Steve Weintraub asked Leitch if he could throw some light on the project during the interview.
The director discussed the inspiration for the picture, as well as the target release date set by the studio: “I’ll be able to tell you a little something about it. It’s a remake of the Lee Majors-starring ’80s sitcom from the late ’70s and early ’80s. In this film, mayhem follows as a stuntman becomes engaged in a bizarre personal story outside of Hollywood. As a result, we’re hoping to make a major summer blockbuster out of it. With the help of Universal and Ryan’s input, we’ve been able to come up with a solid script, and production is set to begin in October. As a result, we’re in pre-production.”
In addition, Leitch discussed the metalinguistic experience that a film set in Hollywood offers. We may expect movie industry cameos, according to Leitch, who said that the aim is to have fun with the premise while also drawing on their own experiences as directors to convey this story: When it comes to the movie business, we’ll undoubtedly want to have some fun. Again, I believe it’s like, “Yes, it’s about a stuntman” for everyone involved. Whatever happens to this person, it’s only a plot device. It’s a wonderful universe in which to have that kind of drama. Kelly [McCormick, producer], my experiences, and Ryan’s experiences are all included in the tales in the book. Playing with the movie, our cinematic experiences will undoubtedly be a lot of fun.” Leitch is no stranger to the realm of stunt work. He worked as a stunt double and stunt coordinator before becoming a director on films like The Matrix series, Underworld Evolution, and Tron: Legacy, to name just a few. This isn’t Gosling’s first time playing a stunt double; he previously portrayed a Hollywood stunt driver with dubious ethics in 2011’s Drive. Additional cast members & release date for The Fall Guy have yet to be announced by Universal.