Jason Statham rose to fame for his roles in The Italian Job, The Transporter, and The Mechanic. As an avid action movie fan, he has always looked up to the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also starred in The Expendables.
However, Statham confessed he finds it sad that many action stars don’t really perform their own stunts on movie sets. They always have body doubles that do the work for them, and this really puts him off.
Jason Statham On What It Takes To Be A Real Action Star
During his interview with The Guardian, actor Jason Statham revealed that even though he is not getting any younger, he has no plans to stop making action movies. He stated:
“I really like doing action movies. It’s opened the door for me and I’ve had a great career out of it. Why not continue doing something I’ve always wanted to do?”
While he confessed admiring the works of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, he said there were a lot of action stars that disappointed him:
“They are not doing what they’re supposed to be doing. I’m inspired by the people who could do their own work. Bruce Lee never had stunt doubles and fight doubles, or Jackie Chan or Jet Li.”
Statham lamented that many actors who are known for their action films don’t really perform their own stunts. He has worked long enough in the industry to know who truly deserves to be called an action star:
“I’ve been in action movies where there is a face replacement [that “face-off machine” really does exist], and I’m fighting with a double, and it’s embarrassing. But if you really are an aficionado of action movies, you know who’s doing what and who ain’t. To me, it’s a little bit sad.”
Today’s movie landscape has brought many action superstars that are very competitive. While there are some who truly deliver epic performances on their own, such as Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves, others just rely on their stunt doubles.
Jason Statham Is Not Enthusiastic About Superhero Movies
Jason Statham also revealed in the same conversation with The Guardian that he is not particularly impressed with superhero movies. He claims that the action sequences are all performed by stunt people:
“You slip on a cape, and you put on the tights, and you become a superhero? They’re not doing anything! They’re just sitting in their trailer. It’s absolutely, 100% created by stunt doubles and green screen. How can I get excited about that?”
The actor recalled how his father, a former boxer and gymnast, encouraged him to be physically active at such a young age. He was able to join a professional diving team, but it was not the kind of success he wanted.
“He taught me to do a handstand practically before I could walk. I could do somersaults and backflips from a very early age. You have to start when you’re five years old; when I started at 12, it’s way late. You need pro coaches; my coach was a chartered accountant.”
Statham’s upcoming movie, The Beekeeper, arrives in theaters this January 12, 2024.
