Action heroes dont look they used to and the same applies to their workout regiments. In a new, in-depth feature forMens Journal, writer Logan Hill learns the key to getting big-screen ripped from some of Hollywoods buffest A-listers, along with the no-frills trainers who whip them into shape.
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Youve gotta be ready to take off your shirt, says actor Michael B. Jordan (who plays the Human Torch in next yearsFantastic Fourflick) about the current state of movie casting. They want to blow you up and put you in a superhero action film. Being fit is so important. . . The bar has been raised.
Kit Harington, who plays warrior types in bothGame of Thronesand the 2014 filmPompeii, says his choice in roles is what regulates his ripped physique. If I wasnt playing some young hero who can swing a sword, I wouldnt care what my upper body looked like, he says, noting that he prepped for both of those major roles withstupid amounts of protein andtwice-daily training session.Playing these hard warriors, it would be a mistake to not look muscle-y.
But not every actor is willing to put in the grueling hours toward achievement physical perfection. Trainer Mark Twight, who trained the cast of300, says star Gerard Butler lacked the proper discipline.Hes not mentally equipped, Twight says. Gerry does not want to do the work that other people are doing. Meanwhile, an unnamed actor echoes that sentiment: Gerry goes straight for the cream puffs, man. He works out hard, then he likes to drink beer. Hell get big, but hell never get ripped.
Another in-demand trainer is Gunnar Peterson, whos helped rejuvenate the build of Sylvester Stallone and, more recently, Matthew McConaughey for his assless-chaps role in 2012sMagic Mike.
Were not auditioning for Cirque du Soleil, Peterson says, emphasizing the importance of old-school workout methods. What about fucking basic barbell curls? It has to be a one-arm dumbbell press on a stability ball? Look, its great that you have an iPad, but theres nothing wrong with a book.
In 2014, for better or worse, actors cant get action hero roles without a six-pack. The fitness standard these days is Tyler Durden, the buff Brad Pitt character from 1999sFight Club.Brad Pitt inFight Clubis the reference for 300, says Twight. Everyone thought he was huge, but he was, like, 155 pounds. If you strip away fat and get guys to 3, 4 percent body fat, they look huge without necessarily being huge.
A decade or so ago, Stallone and Van Damme and Schwarzenegger were the action stars, says Deborah Snyder, who produces the films of her husband, Zack Snyder. Now we expect actors who arent action stars to transform themselves. And we expect them to be big and powerful and commanding.