Starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig, Heels is a captivating drama television series that serves as a love letter to the world of professional wrestling. Through its engaging storytelling, the show sheds light on the complexities that exist both inside and outside the wrestling ring, making it a must-watch for fans of the sport. What makes it even more engaging is the brutal choreographed fights much like the sport in real life.
For the actors, the challenging aspect was having to endure punches on cue, making it an especially painful experience for Alexander Ludwig, despite being no stranger to physical roles like in Vikings.
Heels Was The Most Painful Thing Alexander Ludwig Has Ever Been a Part of
According to Alexander Ludwig, Stephen Amell‘s co-star, the story of Heels focusing on Jack Spade and Ace Spade’s journey in their late father’s Georgia wrestling promotion, the Duffy Wrestling League, proved to be the most challenging endeavor he has ever undertaken. This statement comes from an actor who had already showcased his dedication by hoisting a ship over a cliff in Vikings. In an interview with Indie Wire, the star revealed,
“I’ve never done a show that’s so painful,–It’s always the thing you don’t expect,–The big moves, those aren’t the ones that hurt. It’s the smaller ones… it’s like, ‘F–k man, this sh-t s–ks.”
In preparation for his role, Ludwig who also happens to be a freestyle skier and an avid skydiving lover, diligently packed on approximately ten pounds of muscle, allowing him to step into the wrestling ring with confidence. Despite the impressive muscle gain, the 31-year-old actor and musician skillfully managed to maintain a lean and toned physique. But despite being under such excruciating pain, the actor loved every minute of it.
Stephen Amell Broke His Back While Filming Heels
While performing his own stunts for the television show, the actor endured a severe back injury. Unlike his co-star Ludwig, who dedicated extensive time to training, the actor hadn’t prepared as rigorously, leading to the unfortunate and jarring consequences. Starz released a statement regarding the situation stating,
“While performing a stunt on the set of Heels this week, Stephen Amell sustained an injury to his back. Following a medical evaluation, he is now resting and recovering at home in anticipation of his return to set. Production continues as Stephen recuperates.”
The actor himself opened up on the matter stating,
“I fractured my… T10 and L1. Compression fracture. I broke my f–king back. I landed straight up and down. And it was one of those injuries that was incredibly painful. I think it was a shock to my system. And everything around that area seized up. And for like 24 hours, I had a lot of difficulty getting a full breath in. And then, miraculously, it was like those muscles relaxed. And this happened on a Wednesday, maybe. And I spent Wednesday night in the hospital but I was home on Thursday. I was back at work on Monday.”
Now that the actor is all better, he couldn’t even imagine the immense pain he endured. It was the unwavering dedication of the lead actors that truly made the show a success.
Heels is available on Starz Apple TV to stream.
Source: IndieWire
