Florence Pugh, thanks to her wild-eyed, scene-stealing performance in Marvel’s forthcoming “Thunderbolts,” has audiences under her spell. The actress, best recognized for her turn as the antihero Yelena Belova, performed an absolutely death-defying stunt. She made the leap from Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The stunt, which was filmed on-site, showcases Pugh’s commitment to her role and has become a focal point of Marvel’s promotional material.
The Merdeka is a majestic symbol of contemporary architecture. That combination makes for an amazing setup to what’s proven to be one of the most thrilling and visually beautiful scenes. Pugh’s character, Yelena Belova, makes the jump from this lofty height, a stunt that she said was nightmare-inducing. All told, she ended up pulling the stunt nine times to nail the best take.
As it turns out, even though she had those fears, Pugh held it together completely while filming this movie. Rather than worry about the heights, she concentrated on regulating her breath and clearing her mind before each jump. It’s clear that her deep commitment to the role. Nothing could have prepared her for the instant thrill she felt when reading the first page of the “Thunderbolts” script.
Director Jake Schreier acknowledged Pugh’s strong belief in the project, stating, “It’s only ’cause she believed in it so much.” He stressed the collaboration between Pugh and the VFX crew that brought the stunt to life. That partnership was key, particularly given that Disney had raised alarm bells over how it would be implemented.
Pugh’s willingness to take on such an intimidating challenge speaks to her artistry and her spirit. She humorously noted, “Of course I was! I mean, I’m crazy, but I’m not that crazy,” highlighting the mix of excitement and trepidation that comes with performing high-risk stunts.
That amazing leap is the focus of Marvel’s new behind-the-scenes feature, “The Jump.” This new joint featurette provides viewers with a thrilling firsthand look at the thunderous artistry that has gone into completing “Thunderbolts.” The first trailer for the film has already given a glimpse of this ear-shattering moment, and fans of the franchise can hardly contain their excitement.
