The star of Netflix’s recently released Western miniseriesAmerican Primeval, revealed that he broke his foot during a stunt while filming Episode 2.American Primeval, created by Mark L. Smith and directed by Pete Berg, is a gritty, six-episode limited series set in early northwestern America. TheAmerican Primevalcastis led by Taylor Kitsch, who portrays Isaac, sustained an injury while filming a fight scene.
During an interview withDecider, Kitsch reveals that hesustained the injury while filming a scene at a skinning camp.The scene involves Isaac defending Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin Rowell (Preston Mota), from a group of ill-tended bear trappers. Check out Kitsch’s comment below:
“‘I broke my foot in this and I think that was in episode 2 at the skinning camp”
Kitsch shares more details of his experience toPeople, explaining that a fellow stunt performer landed on his foot, immediately breaking it. However, he continued the rest of the shoot with a broken foot. After completing the day’s shoot,he was told he required urgent surgery, resulting in six weeks of immobilityand recovery. Check out Kitsch’s interview withPeoplebelow:
“They cut a bone out of my foot, and I was on a couch for six weeks and couldn’t walk. Then I was in a boot for another six weeks. Obviously, you have to cut all these nerves out, and that made my foot colder a lot quicker, so we were kind of battling that for a while.”
“I lost a bunch of weight because when you meet Isaac, he’s got not a whole lot of purpose left after losing his family, so he’s kind of just existing. So that was just in prep. And then, we did a lot on horseback. I’m not a great horseman, so we had a cowboy camp for around three weeks before we started, and I live in Montana now, so I got a little bit ahead of the curve and had a buddy that has a few horses on his ranch, so started there. That’s way more physical than you think it’s going to be too.”
What This Means for American Primeval’s Production
Kitsch’s Broken Foot is Another Example of the Realities of Stuntwork
Kitsch’s injury is just one example of the rigorous demands placed on actors performing intense, physically demanding stunts. The scene in which his foot injury occurred is pivotal to Isaac’s character arc, and along with his interconnection with other supporting characters, demonstrates the high stakes of survival in the show’s violent setting. Successfullycompleting the sequence despite the injury speaks to Kitsch’s commitment to his roleas Isaac.
Moreover, the show’s emphasis on realism extends beyond physical performances. Set in the brutal, unpredictable landscape of the American northwest,American Primevalrelies heavily on practical effects, choreographed stunts, and veritable set design and locations to immerse viewersin its harsh environment. Injuries like Kitsch’s illustrate the challenges of creating such realism.
10 Actors Who Got Injured Doing Their Own Stunts
An actor’s commitment to their role sometimes leads them to perform their own stunts. However, this dedication can raise the risk of on-set injuries.
For Netflix, Kitsch’s experience points towards the risks involved in high-pressure productions, particularly for action-heavy series. Such incidents are not uncommon in the industry. For example, Tom Cruise famously broke his ankle while performing a stunt onMission: Impossible – Fallout. Similarly, Harrison Ford sustained a leg injury on the set ofStar Wars: The Force Awakenswhen a hydraulic door malfunctioned. While such accidents can causesignificant delays and safety concerns,Kitsch’s quick recovery and commitment to the project helped minimize disruption.
Our Take on Kitsch’s On-Set Injury
Kitsch’s Injury Speaks To His Commitment To American Primeval
Kitsch’s perseverance through a serious injury details the intense effort behindcreatingAmerican Primeval. His dedication to his role reflects the commitment of the cast and crew to delivering a gritty, authentic portrayal of early American life in the Northwest. If Kitsch’s experience on-set is any indication, viewers can expectAmerican Primevalnot to shy away from the harsh realities of the frontier.
American Primeval
Cast
American Primeval is a Netflix limited series that follows the lives of several men and women in the middle of the expansion of the American West. Social dynamics clash as men and women battle for a piece of the new world against rivals and each other.
