The process of making a film in Hollywood is usually long, daunting and expensive. It is also often very unpredictable. With so many moving parts needing to coalesce, it is not uncommon to hear that a particular production has been halted. Some of the more obvious reasons for this would usually entail a public occurrence that affects everyone, such as when the COVID pandemic hit the world in 2019 and 2020.
Most productions had to go into hiatus until further notice, with only very few movies continuing to film during the lockdown — and under very strict protocols. Avatar 2, Mission: Impossible 7, Elvis and The Batman are some of the select films that continued with production despite the knock-on effects of the pandemic’s onset.
The prospective Western film Rust is another example of a production that had to be halted for a very obvious decision, following the accidental but fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. As unfortunate as the incident was, it was just the latest in a line of tragic accidents that have occurred on sets in Hollywood, often leading to a temporary or permanent stop to a production process.
A less calamitous example involves Brad Pitt and his movie Ad Astra, whose set he stormed off of following a heated disagreement with director James Gray. The postponement of production on Jake Gyllenhaal’s Southpaw would also fall under this “less calamitous” category.
Jake Gyllenhaal Played A Professional Boxer In The Movie Southpaw
Southpaw is a sports drama film that was released in July 2015, with Jake Gyllenhaal in the leading role. The movie was written by Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter, and directed by Antoine Fuqua, also known for Training Day, The Equalizer, Olympus Has Fallen and other blockbusters. Gyllenhaal starred in Southpaw as Billy “The Great” Hope, a professional boxer struggling to cope with his wife’s death and the loss of custody of his daughter. The film also featured Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The movie begins with Billy as the undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion, living a lavish lifestyle with his wife Maureen (McAdams) and daughter Leila (Oona Laurence). However, tragedy strikes when Maureen is killed in a shooting, and Billy spirals into a deep depression, turning to drugs and alcohol to cope.
As a result, he loses custody of his daughter to Child Protective Services and is forced to fight his way back to regain custody and redemption. He turns to Tick Wills ( Whitaker), a former boxer turned trainer, to help him get back into shape and regain his fighting spirit.
How Did Jake Gyllenhaal Prepare For His Role In Southpaw?
If an actor is going to star in a boxing film, one of the things they have to prepare for is one or two real punches landing on them. Michael B. Jordan can definitely attest to this, as he was literally knocked out by real-life boxer Tony Bellew as they filmed their 2015 movie Creed. For Southpaw, Jake Gyllenhaal went to great lengths to ensure that he was prepared to deliver a convincing performance as a pro boxer.
The process involved a rigorous physical transformation to help the actor transform into Billy Hope. He worked with a personal trainer and followed a strict diet and workout regimen to build his physique, to the tune of around 15 pounds.
Gyllenhaal also trained with professional boxers and boxing coaches to learn the skills and techniques of the sport. He worked on improving his footwork, speed, and punching power to make his on-screen boxing scenes look authentic. There were also mental elements involved in this preparation process.
Production On Southpaw Had To Be Halted After Jake Gyllenhaal Was Punched A Little Too Hard
All this preparation helped Jake Gyllenhaal deliver a jaw-dropping performance as Billy “The Great” Hope, even earning him a Jupiter Award nomination for Best Actor. But that is not to say that the filming process went all smooth; at some point, production had to be halted after the Brokeback Mountain star caught a proper hook in the face.
“I got hit pretty hard in the face,” Gyllenhaal said in an interview with Details magazine, as was later reported by People. “All the producers ran [over to me]. I don’t think out of real worry for me, but just the fact that we were only two weeks into shooting.”
Seeing as he was filming a story about boxing, it wouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that this happened, but it’s not an experience he is very eager to relive. “There is something jarring about being hit in the face,” Gyllenhaal revealed. “I don’t know how to explain it. It wakes me up.”
Southpaw returned $94 million at the box office, placing it 12th in the list of the actor’s highest-grossing films ever, as of 2023.
