The Fall Guy (2024 film)

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The Fall Guy
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDavid Leitch
Written byDrew Pearce
Based onThe Fall Guy
by Glen A. Larson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJonathan Sela
Edited byElísabet Ronaldsdóttir
Music byDominic Lewis
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • March 12, 2024 (2024-03-12) (SXSW)
  • May 3, 2024 (2024-05-03) (United States)
Running time
126 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$125 million[2]

The Fall Guy is a 2024 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch and written by Drew Pearce, loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers. The film follows a stuntman working on his ex-girlfriend's directorial debut action film, only to find himself involved in a conspiracy surrounding the film's lead actor. It stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke.

The Fall Guy premiered at SXSW on March 12, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada by Universal Pictures on May 3, 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, and has broken a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls performed in a car.

Plot[edit]

Hollywood stunt performer Colt Seavers, who primarily works as the stunt double for famous action star Tom Ryder, is severely injured during a stunt gone wrong. Blaming himself, Colt abandons his career and his girlfriend, camera operator Jody Moreno.

18 months later Colt, now a valet for a small Mexican restaurant, is contacted by Tom's film producer Gail Meyer. She claims that Jody is directing her first film, a science fiction epic called "Metalstorm," and has asked for him to join the production in Sydney, Australia.

However, Colt arrives on set, learns that Jody never asked for him, and is still furious about their breakup. Gail reveals that Tom has disappeared after falling in with members of the local criminal element, and she wants Colt to find him before his absence causes the film's cancellation.

Not wanting to ruin Jody's directorial debut, Colt investigates Tom's home and recent movements and gets into several violent altercations. In a hotel room that Tom rented secretly, Colt finds a dead body in a bathtub full of ice, but when he returns with the police, the body is gone.

Meanwhile, as production of "Metalstorm" continues, Colt and Jody begin to rekindle their relationship until Gail abruptly informs him that he's been fired and gives him a ticket back to the United States. Instead, Colt continues looking for Tom by tracking down his PA, Alma Milan. They are both attacked by goons looking for a phone belonging to Tom in Alma's possession. Colt eventually defeats them after an extended chase through Sydney.

Colt and his friend Dan Tucker, the stunt coordinator on "Metalstorm," unlock the phone at Tom's apartment. They discover a video of an intoxicated Tom accidentally killing his previous stuntman, Henry. The goons attack Colt and Dan, and the phone is accidentally destroyed.

Dan escapes, but Colt is captured and brought face to face with Tom, who has been hiding out on a yacht on Gail's instructions. Tom reveals that Gail is framing Colt for the crime, using deep fake technology to replace Tom's face on the video with Colt's, and the phone was the last piece of evidence against Tom. He also reveals that Colt and Henry's "accidents" are actually deliberate attempts at murder carried out by Tom out of his narcissistic jealousy.

At the same time, Henry's dead body is discovered, and the doctored video is released to the news, along with other circumstantial evidence, while Gail tries to convince Jody that Colt is guilty. Colt escapes and is presumed dead after a boat chase, though he swims to safety.

Tom arrives at the "Metalstorm" set with his goons the next day, and the production continues. Colt also returns to the set secretly and convinces Jody of his innocence. Together, they trick Tom into participating in a stunt sequence, scaring him into confessing while he's wired for sound, while the rest of the crew, led by Dan, hold off his goons.

Gail steals the recording at gunpoint and tries to flee in a helicopter, but Jody helps Colt leap onto the helicopter in mid-air, where he retrieves the recording and falls onto a crash mat prepared by Dan. The pair is then apprehended by the police. Tom attempts to get away and contacts his agency through his cell phone while standing on top of pyrokinetic explosives, causing the explosives to set off and killing him.

Metalstorm premieres at San Diego Comic Con, now starring Jason Momoa, and is a huge hit. Colt is exonerated, and he and Jody get back together. The end credits play over a montage of behind-the-scenes footage of the real stunt work involved in making the film.

Cast[edit]

Lee Majors and Heather Thomas, who starred in the original television series, have cameo appearances in the film as police officers,[9] while Jason Momoa cameos as himself.

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

In July 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that a film based on the 1980s series The Fall Guy was in development. DreamWorks Pictures had teamed up with producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald on the project,[10] and Martin Campbell was in talks to direct the film.[11] DreamWorks, through the Walt Disney Studios' Touchstone Pictures distribution label, was to release the film in North America, Latin America, Russia, Australia, and Asia, while Mister Smith Entertainment would have handled sales in the remaining territories. In September 2013, Dwayne Johnson was in negotiations to play the title role and McG was in talks to direct.[12]

In September 2020, Ryan Gosling, director David Leitch, and writer Drew Pearce were said to be working on an "unnamed stuntman film" that had been picked up by Universal Pictures.[13] In May 2022, it was confirmed this project was a film adaptation of The Fall Guy. Loosely based on the TV series, the film is produced by Universal with Leitch's 87North Productions and Gosling's Entertainment 360, with Leitch and Kelly McCormick producing alongside Gosling and Guymon Casady. Pearce is also an executive producer, as are Geoff Shaevitz and original series creator Glen A. Larson.[14][4] Variety reported that the Australian Government and the New South Wales state authorities added funds to the production up to A$30 million and A$14.5 million respectively, with Paul Fletcher, Australia's Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, estimating a boom to the local economy, over 1,000 Australian cast and crew, and more than 3,015 Australian film extras.[15][16]

Emily Blunt was cast in August 2022.[17] Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Stephanie Hsu joined in October,[18][8] and Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham and Teresa Palmer were cast the following month.[5][6][7]

Gosling said that he took inspiration from Leitch and his producer wife, Kelly McCormick, for his role in the love story element of the film.[19] Blunt's role was originally a makeup artist, and it was rewritten to be a first-time director before she received a draft of the script.[20] Blunt had some input on the character, stating that "We all kind of built her together, because I think, maybe in the original script, she was quite severe, and that sort of tough director"; she thought it was more interesting to see someone who is "in a situation where they're way over their head."[20] For the character, Blunt took some inspiration from director Greta Gerwig and several other people she had met.[20]

Filming[edit]

Principal photography began in October 2022 in Sydney, Australia,[21] at the Disney Studios Australia in Moore Park, Sydney.[22] In January 2023, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was closed for several daytime hours for filming of scenes involving Gosling.[23][24]

The film used practical stunts, with highly choreographed action sequences. Leitch stated, "It was a love letter to stunts. We knew we had to be authentic in that world."[25] It broke a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls in a car, with eight and a half rolls performed by stunt driver Logan Holladay.[26]

Music[edit]

The Fall Guy's score was composed by Dominic Lewis, who previously scored Bullet Train.[27] Blake Shelton contributed to the soundtrack with a cover of "Unknown Stuntman", the theme to the series originally performed by Lee Majors.[4]

Release[edit]

The Fall Guy had its world premiere at SXSW on March 12, 2024.[28] It was released in theaters in Australia on April 24, 2024,[29] and later in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2024, and then in the United States the following day.[30][31] It was previously scheduled for March 1, 2024.[32]

Universal screened The Fall Guy at its CinemaCon panel on April 8, 2024.[33]

Reception[edit]

The Fall Guy received generally positive reviews after its SXSW premiere.[34][35][36] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 55 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "With action, comedy, romance, and a pair of marvelously matched stars, The Fall Guy might be the rare mainstream movie with something to entertain everyone."[37] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[38]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Fall Guy (12A)". BBFC. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Rubin, Rebecca; Vary, Adam B. (January 3, 2024). "Box Office Predictions for 2024: Will Deadpool, 'Wicked' and Two Kevin Costners Bring a Blockbuster Year?". Variety. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Gardner, Chris (April 26, 2023). "Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt and David Leitch Tease 'Fall Guy' at CinemaCon With Stunt Spectacle". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Breznican, Anthony (November 1, 2023). "Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt Risk It All in The Fall Guy — An Exclusive First Look". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Kit, Borys (November 4, 2022). "Winston Duke Joins Ryan Gosling in Universal's 'The Fall Guy' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Kit, Borys (November 11, 2022). "Hannah Waddingham Joins Ryan Gosling in 'The Fall Guy' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (November 21, 2022). "Teresa Palmer Joins Ryan Gosling In Universal's The Fall Guy". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Kit, Borys (October 31, 2022). "Everything Everywhere All at Once Breakout Stephanie Hsu Joins Ryan Gosling in Universal's The Fall Guy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  9. ^ "Lee Majors to star alongside Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy movie". Yahoo! Life. February 17, 2023. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  10. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (July 1, 2010). "Hollywood falls for 'The Fall Guy': Lee Majors series is latest reboot candidate". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  11. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (October 31, 2011). "Martin Campbell Eyeing 'The Fall Guy'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  12. ^ Kit, Borys; Siegel, Tatiana (September 5, 2013). "Toronto: Dwayne Johnson, McG to Tackle 'The Fall Guy' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  13. ^ White, James (September 23, 2020). "Ryan Gosling Playing A Stuntman In New David Leitch Film". Empire. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Moran, Jonathon (September 22, 2022). "Ryan Gosling arrives in Sydney to film The Fall Guy with Emily Blunt". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
  15. ^ Frater, Patrick (May 17, 2022). "Ryan Gosling Circling 'The Fall Guy' Film Adaptation". Variety. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  16. ^ "Action film The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling to inject $244m into the Australian economy". Business News Australia. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Kroll, Justin (August 12, 2022). "Emily Blunt Joins Ryan Gosling In Universal's 'The Fall Guy' Movie; Studio Sets Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 28, 2022). "Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins Ryan Gosling In The Fall Guy". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "Ryan Gosling and 'The Fall Guy' Charm SXSW With Action Comedy Conceived as a 'Love Letter to Crews'". Variety. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "Emily Blunt says her Fall Guy character is loosely based on Barbie director Greta Gerwig". Total Film. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "The Fall Guy". ProductionList.com. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  22. ^ Cartwright, Lexie (October 4, 2022). "Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Jason Momoa spotted out in Sydney". News.com.au.
  23. ^ "Sydney Harbour Bridge closed for filming". Sky News Australia. January 22, 2023. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  24. ^ Muroi, Millie (January 21, 2023). "Harbour Bridge closes as Ryan Gosling shoots new film". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  25. ^ "Ryan Gosling and 'The Fall Guy' Director David Leitch Premiere Their "Love Letter" to Stunts at SXSW". The Hollywood Reporter. March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "'The Fall Guy' breaks Guinness World Record for stunt previously held by James Bond movie". Entertainment Weekly. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  27. ^ "Dominic Lewis Scoring David Leitch's 'The Fall Guy'". Film Music Reporter. September 19, 2023. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  28. ^ Galuppo, Mia (January 10, 2024). "Ryan Gosling's 'Fall Guy,' '3 Body Problem' Headed to SXSW". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  29. ^ Ward, Sarah (March 21, 2024). "Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt's Stuntman Action-Comedy 'The Fall Guy' Just Dropped Its Latest Trailer". Concrete Playground. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  30. ^ Zee, Michaela (November 14, 2023). "'The Fall Guy' Release Date Moved to May, Stakes Out 'Deadpool 3' Slot". Variety. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  31. ^ Horton, Adrian (March 13, 2024). "The Fall Guy review – Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt dazzle in delightful action comedy". The Guardian. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  32. ^ Villei, Matt (August 12, 2022). "'The Fall Guy': Ryan Gosling-led Drama Sets 2024 Release Date". Collider. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  33. ^ Booth, Kaitlyn (February 6, 2024). "Universal Set To Screen The Fall Guy At CinemaCon". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  34. ^ "Ryan Gosling's 'The Fall Guy' Includes a Dog Inspired by Eva Mendes' Former Pet". The Hollywood Reporter. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  35. ^ "Ryan Gosling's new action movie gets compared to Tropic Thunder and Lethal Weapon in glowing first reactions". Total Film. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  36. ^ "'The Fall Guy' Somersaults into the Guinness Book of World Records in New Sneak Peek". Collider. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  37. ^ "The Fall Guy". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 22, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  38. ^ "The Fall Guy". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2024.

External links[edit]

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