Ryan Gosling, fresh off his acclaimed role as Ken in the hit film Barbie, is back with another iconic role in The Fall Guy. Directed by David Leitch, known for his work on John Wick, The Fall Guy is a loose adaptation of the popular 1980s TV series starring Lee Majors. From the recently released trailer, it is evident that The Fall Guy is a delightful throwback to classic action comedies, providing Gosling with another opportunity to showcase his acting skills. For those of us who grew up in a certain era, Majors was a familiar face. He gained fame through his series The Six Million Dollar Man and later starred in The Fall Guy in 1981.
Majors portrayed Colt Seavers, a stuntman who also worked as a bounty hunter with his cousin Howie Munson, played by Douglas Barr. The show featured Colt's love interest, stuntwoman Jody Banks, portrayed by Heather Thomas. Each episode showcased their thrilling adventures, utilizing Colt's vast stunt experience and knowledge. The show paid homage to iconic stunt scenes from films like Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, Silver Streak, and The Poseidon Adventure. After its five-season run ended in 1986, The Fall Guy gradually disappeared from television, but the first season was released on DVD in 2008.
Plans for a feature film were first discussed in 2010 with Dreamworks, starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by McG. However, this project did not materialize. Finally, in 2020, Gosling and Leitch signed on for Universal's film adaptation, with Glen A. Larson, the creator of the original series, serving as an executive producer. Gosling's portrayal of Colt Seavers in the film is that of an aging stuntman who finds himself unwittingly solving a mystery. Emily Blunt co-stars as Jody Moreno, Colt's ex-girlfriend and a former camera operator who seizes the opportunity to direct her first film. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Tom Ryder, a movie star who mysteriously disappears during filming.
Stephanie Hsu portrays Ryder's personal assistant, and Winston Duke takes on the role of Colt's stunt coordinator and best friend. Hannah Waddingham from the hit series Ted Lasso appears as Gail, the producer of Jody's film. Lee Majors, now in his 80s, is expected to make a cameo appearance, and fans hope he might even perform the original series' theme song, "Unknown Stuntman." The trailer begins with Colt preparing for a daring stunt involving a car and a helicopter. Despite successfully completing the stunt, it becomes clear that Jody was unaware of Colt's involvement in her film, suggesting an unpleasant break-up. Things take a turn when Ryder goes missing, and Gail tasks Colt with finding him in order to complete Jody's film. In Ryder's hotel room, Colt discovers a dead body on ice, leading him to confront dangerous elements that are now trying to kill him.
The trailer showcases Colt's impressive stunt skills, including a thrilling car chase involving an adorable dog, all set to the backdrop of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." It's safe to say that The Fall Guy has all the makings of an exciting and entertaining film.
