Former stuntman and current filmmaker David Leitch recalls the moment he crashed a Chevrolet El Camino on the set of "The Mexican" while stunt-doubling for Brad Pitt. He could not focus properly because he was starstruck. He was terminated soon after the incident.
Filmmaker David Leitch started life in Hollywood as a stuntman. He doubled for Brad Pitt several times, but he will always remember one of those times with embarrassment. On the set of The Mexican, more than a quarter of a century ago, Leitch messed up really badly. But he kept the moment a secret until recently.
During a conversation at Collider's Directors on Directing pane at WonderCon with Steve Weintraub as a host, David Leitch recalled a memorable yet embarrassing moment of his career as a stuntman. He remembered that there were two El Caminos used to shoot the driving scenes with Brad Pitt behind the wheel. But Leitch accidentally crashed one into the other.
"I was really just supposed to drive through the spotlight, but I got really excited, because 'I'm doubling Brad Pitt!' I hit the brake, and I hit some dirt. And I lost control of the car. […] I was just like, 'I guess I’m gonna crash the El Camino,' Leich said, laughing through the story.
However, the funny part was not the accident, but the stunt coordinator telling him that his number one mistake was not crashing. "The one mistake you did was when you got out of the car, you should've yelled at transpo, 'This thing doesn't have any brakes!" he recalls that he was fired soon after the incident.
Photo: The Mexican
David Leitch made his directorial debut with "John Wick," working alongside Chad Stahelski, though only Stahelski was credited.
His portfolio as a stuntman includes blockbusters such as "The Bourne Ultimatum," "The Matrix Reloaded," and "Matrix Revolutions." He was a stunt double for Brad Pitt five times in movies such as "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "Fight Club," and, of course, "The Mexican." He also stepped in for Jean Claude van Dame two times. Now, the 48-year-old is directing Hollywood stars that he once stunt-doubled.
Currently working as a director, producer, and stunt coordinator, Leitch is making a great team with his wife and producing partner Kelly McCormick. He has recently worked on "The Fall Guy," the film which is credited with a record: the highest number of cannon rolls in a movie.
The stuntman stepping in for Ryan Gosling rolled over eight and a half times while driving a heavily modified Jeep Grand Cherokee. The previous record belonged to Adam Kirby, who completed seven rolls two decades ago on the set of the James Bond film from 2006, Casino Royale. "The Fall Guy" will hit cinema theaters on May 3.
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