Before the era of CGI, the stars had to do their own stunts in the movies or had stunt doubles do the more dangerous stunts for them. Kurt Russell and Quentin Tarantino have done multiple movies together over the years and while filming Death Proof, Russell had to do a stunt scene that could have ended up costing him his life.
Kurt Russell opened up about his near-death experience while filming Death Proof
Kurt Russell is one of the most established actors in the industry and the American actor has worked with the legendary director, Quentin Tarantino in multiple movies throughout his career. Russell portrayed the iconic role of Mike McKay in Quentin Tarantino’s slasher movie, Death Proof, which kicked off his alliance with Tarantino. He then went on to appear in The Hateful Eight and also had a small role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as well.
Kurt Russell commented on working on Death Proof and said, “You’re never going to have more fun time than you have on a Tarantino show. That’s a wild ass circus.” Russell further talked about filming a dangerous car scene that could’ve cost him his life for Death Proof in a recent interview with GQ Magazine. He said,
“He didn’t want to do any CGI or anything so it’s going to be old school. I have driven cars all my life. As a kid, I won a championship on a racecar. I can do anything you want in a car…We’re doing 80-90 miles an hour and you’re on this little two-lane highway. So, the camera car is here, I can’t be behind the camera car, so I gotta be over here for the shot. So, now, I’m in the oncoming lane.”
Kurt Russell further added that they had to close down the road to take the shot and after receiving the go, they were filming the shot when something terrible happened. He said
“We come down the road. I don’t know what happened, I can’t remember what happened. I saw something or felt something, I just slammed the brakes [and got the car in the right lane] and vroom, a guy just goes by 50 miles an hour, the other way, the lane I was in.”
Russell further added that he pulled over, just took the keys out of the car, and showed up for work the next day anyway.
Death Proof is currently streaming on Fubo.
Uma Thurman’s horrifying accident from Kill Bill: Volume 1
Long before Kurt Russell avoided a car accident while filming Death Proof, Uma Thurman, who portrayed the role of The Bride aka Black Mamba in the movie, Kill Bill: Volume 1, got in a terrifying accident that could’ve gone really badly for the actress. A video of the accident was posted to Instagram by the actress almost 15 years after the release of the movie. In the clip, she can be seen driving a convertible and running into a tree at almost 40 miles an hour.
Uma Thurman went on to write that Quentin Tarantino was very sorry for the accident and still remains remorseful to the day. She wrote,
“Quentin Tarantino, was deeply regretful and remains remorseful about this sorry event, and gave me the footage years later so i could expose it and let it see the light of day.”
Uma Thurman further went on to blame the producers of the movie, Lawrence Bender and E. Bennett Walsh for covering up the horrible accident which could’ve even ended her life. Bender later issued a statement claiming he was not a part of any coverup for the accident and was sorry for all the physical and emotional agony that it had caused to the actress.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 is currently available for rent on Apple TV+.
