FLORENCE PUGH IN “BLACK WIDOW”
Absolutely Stunting Black Widow and James Bond are just some of the badass heroes facing off in the race for stunt work in a motion picture
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“Black Widow” This summer, the world finally got to see Scarlett Johansson lead her own Marvel film. The movie is an action-packed Russian spy caper that reminded us why we fell in love with the character when she first appeared in “Iron Man 2.” It also introduced us to Florence Pugh’s Yelena, David Harbour’s Alexei, and Rachel Weisz’s Melina. From BACKSTAGE 12.06.21
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narrow escapes to harrowing brawls, the Marvel team was at the top of its game and left us begging for more.
“F9: The Fast Saga” Vin Diesel’s record-breaking series returned with more of what has made the “Fast & Furious” franchise a massive hit for almost two decades. That’s partially thanks to the film’s A-list action-star cast (including, for “F9,” Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Jason Statham), but it’s largely the stunt coordinators and performers who make the actors look as cool as they do. “Free Guy” With “Free Guy,” star Ryan Reynolds leans on the same action-comedy formula that made “Deadpool” such a massive hit. Trapped in a video-game world, his titular hero is free to break the rules of reality in “Matrix”-like sequences and gravity-defying set pieces. The stunt team, therefore, had to be particularly inventive. “Halloween Kills” David Gordon Green’s sequel to 2018’s smashhit “Halloween” reboot is bigger, bloodier, and
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“BLACK WIDOW”: KEVIN BAKER; “FREE GUY”: ALAN MARKFIELD
rom driving a car over a crumbling bridge to jumping out of a burning building, Hollywood’s stuntmen and women are some of the hardest-working people in show business, and they should be regarded as such. The SAG Awards remain one of the only major ceremonies to recognize outstanding performance by a stunt ensemble in a motion picture, an award most recently won by “Wonder Woman 1984.” When considering which ensembles should be on the ballot this year, don’t forget about these seven standout stunt teams from Marvel, the latest “James Bond” film, “F9: The Fast Saga,” and beyond.
“SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS”: COURTESY MARVEL STUDIOS; “NO TIME TO DIE”: NICOLA DOVE
JODIE COMER AND RYAN REYNOLDS IN “FREE GUY”
By Matthew Nerber
