Marvel star Djimon Hounsou, who gained widespread acclaim for his charismatic performances in superhero films, found himself at the center of an unexpected incident during the filming of the Never Back Down movie starring Sean Faris. The renowned actor praised for his roles in blockbuster hits such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, unintentionally showed surprising strength, resulting in an unfortunate injury to the film’s star, Faris.
Djimon Hounsou Accidentally Broke Sean Faris’ Spine In Never Back Down(2008)
In the world of intense action films, actors often push their physical limits to bring authenticity to their roles. Sean Faris, a rising young star in Hollywood at that time, was determined to prove his spirit on the screen.
He embarked on an exciting adventure as the lead in the mixed martial arts movie, Never Back Down, alongside Cam Gigandet, Amber Heard, and two-time Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou.
During an interview with a media outlet, Faris candidly discussed the demanding preparation he underwent for the film. He revealed,
“For the film, we had three months of training in L.A., and we trained for six hours a day, six days a week. It was pretty intense.”
Amidst the harsh training and physically demanding scenes, the 41-year-old faced a significant setback.
He disclosed that he broke his thumb on the second-to-last day of filming and also suffered a more serious injury. Faris explained,
“I broke my thumb on the second to last day of filming, and halfway through filming, I broke my L3… I’m going to say this very slowly… I broke my L3 spinous transverse process, which is a small bone that comes off the back of your spinal cord in your lower back. That happened when Djimon bodyslammed me for like 10 takes and my back finally gave in.”
Despite the injuries, Faris displayed resilience and determination, completing 75% of his stunts. Further, reflecting on his experience working with the 59-year-old, the model expressed immense admiration for Hounsou’s remarkable acting abilities, captivating presence, and genuine character.
Hounsou’s influence left a lasting impact on Faris, motivating him to strive for excellence in his craft.
All To Know About Never Back Down- The Martial Arts Film
The Never Back Down franchise grew into a beloved series of martial arts movies. With the rise in popularity of MMA, the franchise was first launched in 2008.
The initial chapter, titled Never Back Down, centered around the story of Jake Tyler (Sean Faris), a hot-tempered teenager who discovers a local MMA gym led by Jean Roqua (Djimon Hounsou). It becomes an outlet for Jake to channel his anger issues.
The film primarily captivates viewers with its training montages rather than the actual martial arts fight scenes, which often resemble music videos shot on cell phones.
The training aspect of the film showcases Jake’s personal growth and his gradual ability to control his anger. However, some parts of the movie can be chilling, especially when the youngsters exploit the opportunity to humiliate each other using their phones.
Hounsou’s performance as the wise Roqua is undoubtedly the highlight of the entire movie. He emphatically emphasizes that his students should not engage in fights outside the gym, providing Jake with the necessary guidance.
The Marvel star embodies the essence of a skilled mixed martial artist, effortlessly heaving cinder blocks and delivering powerful kicks to heavy bags.
While Never Back Down may not be the model of MMA movies, it does have its moments, and Hounsou’s mentor portrayal makes it worth a watch.
Source: IMDb
