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a cursory glance at the premise makes it sounds like perfect film-adaptation fodder.
Leitch did grow up on the ’80s TV series, which was formative for him.
I watched it as a kid, he tells Total Film.
That first sizzle was basically an LA noir story, and thats what we sold, says McCormick.
We had an idea of the investigative engine of what we needed it to be, says Leitch.
Its sort of like the origin story of the bounty hunter.
Hes going to get his first mission to find a guy.
Only when Colt gets there, the director isnt best pleased to see him.
(Youre a stunt man, nobodys going to notice you.
Thats your job, Gail reasons).
Colt is a guy thats relatable in a lot of ways, says Leitch.
It made it feel like [the character] had more pressure on her.
Blunt also says that the character is loosely inspired by Barbie director Greta Gerwig.
With the warmth and the charm, I guess theres a little Greta in there, she says.
She was a mix of a few other people Id met and pulled from.
I know the chaos that ensues.
Its a love letter to making movies.
And its to ensure that she seems very real and accessible to everyone.
There were so many small frustrations like, Really?
Is he going to go off and do that Barbie movie?
It was more from the studio than us, even.
And now were like, Oh my God, he made that Barbie movie!
That was a good thing to wait for!
But they are definitely even hotter than they were a year ago, which is crazy to think about.
They were two very separate entities.
I think it was really wonderful and really funny to us when they got sandwiched [together].
you could fake it with someone, but I guess its just not as fun.
I feel like chemistry comes from an ease and a trust, and a sense of humour.
As well as laughs, spontaneity and a willingness to experiment also helps.
Its when people fall in love on location, explains Leitch.
Theres definitely a reality to that.
I think there is a little…
I think thats probably a mirror of us.
Like, the PAs who have a bit more time.
I heard it was a very romantic set!
Maybe its life imitating art.
Thats not the only behind-the-scenes behaviour that The Fall Guy shares with the audience.
Its full of meta commentary and inside jokes.
And its not all as farfetched as you would believe.
I think all of us in the making of the movie had our anecdotes, says Leitch.
Whether those got heightened or distilled, we all have these crazy stories of what Hollywood is.
I was like, Is it, though?
Remember that time when this happened?
They were like, Yeah, youre not wrong.
Through Taylor-Johnsons off-the-rails egomaniac star (It couldnt be further from the truth, says Leitch.
Of course, another key inside movies element to get excited about is the stunts.
There are several [stunts] that are classic, he continues.
With modern rigging and wire removal and CGI, we often do things differently.
It was great to revive that because its part of the story organically.
So those are two of many things we did, like fire gags and car hits and stair falls.
Its just a lot of visceral, practical stunts that the stunt team is really proud of.
Ryan was game, obviously, to do a lot of things, says Leitch.
We dragged him across the Harbour Bridge at 30 miles an hour.
We put him on top of a truck, and drove through the streets of Sydney.
He was really game to do these stunts.
He did some really big stuff.
Its just pretty intimidating.
I do a couple of fights, says Blunt.
I adore a fight scene, and Im very game.
But [as for the kind of stunts that] Ryan did Im like, Nope!
That thing he did off the top of that building?
I was like, Thats a solid no for me.
I still have nightmares, she says.
Blunt credits Leitchs surety with giving Gosling the confidence to take that leap of faith.
Its Davids absolute certainty that you will be fine.
Hes got the best guys [working with him], and you know it.
The big stunts were baked into the DNA of the movie early on, says Leitch.
Everyone was confident, thats why we were joking, laughs Leitch.
So we had Jody talk about it [in the film].
And we were shooting it that way as well.
Not only do you feel that its real, but you feel that energy that we all had.
I do think that that hit the celluloid.
That energy beams through when this team talks about the movie.
They love the thrill of it all, and they love the challenge.
But a lot of them are cinephiles, and they really love film…
It is a technical business, and its not daredevils any more.
The film even features BTS footage across the credits, showcasing the stunt crews efforts.
It doesnt take you out of the movie, because I think the audience feels that theyve been backstage.
Theyve been behind the scenes the whole film.
So its just another layer upon that.
Well have to see if people love it, you know?
I would do many Fall Guys if I could.
It was just too much fun.
I know I want to go on a journey with these characters for multiple films, admits Leitch.
I want Lethal Weapon numbers.
I love these people so much, and also I love these characters…
I hope people want more.
The Fall Guy is out in theaters on May 2.
