Gerard Butler Discusses Challenges of Filming His New Movie: “It Was A Nightmare & I Was A Whiny Little B-tch”

Gerard Butler has firmly established himself in the realm of action cinema. Although he made his acting debut in the period drama Mrs. Brown (1997) as Archie Brown, his journey took a significant turn towards high-energy films shortly thereafter. He stepped into the action genre with a part in the James Bond flick Tomorrow Never Dies, and in 1998, he embraced adventure fantasies once more with Tale of the Mummy. This exciting genre has remained a staple throughout Butler’s extensive career.

Over two decades later, Butler continues to thrive in the action genre, showcasing his versatility across various film types—from disaster films such as Geostorm (2017) and Greenland (2020) to contemporary thrillers like Kandahar (2023) and Last Seen Alive (2022). In addition to standalone projects, he has contributed to notable franchises like the animated series How to Train Your Dragon and the Has Fallen series. Excitingly, a sequel to Greenland is also in the works. However, Butler’s latest project has not been without its share of adversities.

Production Challenges on Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Confronting a Pivotal ACL Injury

Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. in Den of Thieves 2

Gerard Butler as Big Nick in Den of Thieves 2

In his latest role in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, Butler faced notable difficulties throughout filming. This sequel to the acclaimed film Den of Thieves (2018) follows the ongoing saga of Big Nick, portrayed by Butler, who is on a mission to thwart a group of diamond thieves in Europe. Joining him in this high-stakes narrative are O’Shea Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito, Orli Shuka, and Nazmiye Oral. The film premiered on January 10, marking a significant title for 2025.

With a substantial budget of $40 million, the movie will require a box office intake of approximately $100 million to achieve profitability.

During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Butler revealed that he encountered unexpected setbacks due to an injury. Despite the inherently challenging nature of shooting action films, he disclosed that, prior to filming, he had undergone surgery and subsequently tore his ACL, stating, “I made this movie with a freshly torn ACL.”His co-star Jackson Jr. added that the film’s numerous staircases heightened the physical demands on Butler, who was already coping with his injury.

Butler: This was a weird time for me at the beginning of this movie because I’d been through a pretty intense surgery, and then I tore my ACL fully about a month later and then started this movie. So I was not in the best shape, and it was a pretty physical movie, and I didn’t have a chance to get the surgery on my ACL, so I made this movie with a freshly torn ACL, and it was pretty rough. But yeah… I wanted to put a ‘but’ in to make it sound positive, but it wasn’t positive; it was a nightmare! And I was a whiny little bitch!

Jackson Jr.: Oh my God, there were so many stairs in that movie too!

Butler: There were so many stairs. I’m like, ‘Really, we have to set this whole movie on a hill?’ So it was intense, but it definitely made the action scenes… I had to do less acting.

Enduring Significant Health Challenges

A Near-Decision to Step Away from Acting

Gerard Butler in Greenland looking dirty and bloody

Navigating life with a torn ACL poses significant challenges, often necessitating surgical intervention. Although this injury complicated Butler’s experience with Pantera, it is not his first brush with severe physical issues. He previously endured a motorcycle accident in 2017, resulting in multiple broken bones, a pinched nerve, and leaving him at risk of potential paralysis. Despite these obstacles, he triumphed, underwent further surgeries, and returned to both motorcycling and acting.

Dealing with the pressures of filming while contending with a torn ACL represented an unwelcome new chapter in Butler’s career. Remarkably, he even considered leaving the acting profession altogether following this incident. In an interview with an Australian news outlet, he revealed his struggles to justify returning to acting. Ultimately, he chose to continue his career, resulting in the release of over a dozen films and several ongoing projects since 2017. Nonetheless, his recent injury and surgical history underscore the lingering health challenges that may compel Butler to moderate his participation in physically demanding roles going forward.

Insights on Butler’s On-Set Experience

Surgery Might Have Unduly Impacted Production Timelines

This testimony aligns with director Christian Gudegast’s recent mention of a primary actor facing a knee injury—specifically indicative of Butler. It appears that his surgery may have contributed to delays in the making of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. The film had already experienced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and disruptions from the joint SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes likely prolonged its production timeline. Although Butler is no stranger to the intricacies of action filming, managing the challenges of a torn ACL introduced an unexpected layer of difficulty.

Despite the strenuous circumstances, Butler has maintained a commendable outlook, which bodes well for his career longevity. He and Jackson Jr. lightheartedly discussed the challenges of shooting amidst Butler’s injury and the abundance of steps featured throughout the film, demonstrating his ability to rise above adversity. While he might have reflected on the immediate effects of his ACL tear, he did not forewarn of any enduring ramifications. Looking ahead, Butler is set to reprise his role in the live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon, affirming his ongoing commitment to his craft.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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