Chris Hemsworth explains why he enjoys Extraction 2's action more than Marvel's. Best known for his portrayal of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Australian actor branched outside the franchise for Extraction in 2020, which was written and produced by the Russo brothers. At the time of its release, Extraction became Netflix's most-watched movie ever, so a sequel was quickly greenlit with Hemsworth returning as the lethal mercenary Tyler Rake. Though Extraction 2 follows a different black ops mission, it will maintain what made the first movie so beloved – exhilarating action sequences achieved through practical stuntwork.
During a recent interview with EW, Hemsworth opened up about Extraction 2's practical stuntwork, which he finds much more satisfying than the MCU's action, which is created mostly through special effects during post-production. The actor enjoyed collaborating with all the different departments in order to shoot Extraction 2's stunts as practically as possible. Read what Hemsworth shared below:
"There's something so satisfying about that. Not to take anything away from the special-effects-filled sort of Marvel film, but you have a lot of help in post-production there. Obviously, I can't fly, so they help through me that. Whereas in this film, the action is grounded in reality, and so much of it is in camera. So, it's a different energy, and the preparation is a lot more extensive."
What Hemsworth's Extraction 2 Comments Reveal About Thor’s MCU Future
Hemsworth's Extraction 2 comments are essentially a love letter to the benefits of practical stuntwork, which can help ground a film in reality and make the audiences feel the action. The first film featured a few intense action sequences which included shoot-outs, hand-to-hand combat, high-speed pursuits, and plenty of explosions. There is even one uninterrupted 12-minute long take that includes all of the above. Extraction 2 will only up the ante in that regard with a standout action sequence set in a snowy prison yard that involves hundreds of extras, though the sequel's most ambitious moment is an even longer uninterrupted take that involves a helicopter landing on a fast-moving train.
Hemsworth's comments praising Extraction 2's practical stuntwork could also be somewhat revelatory regarding his MCU future. The Thor: Love and Thunder ending set up the titular hero's return, but Hemsworth recently made comments suggesting his next MCU appearance may be his last. Hemsworth has also voiced some displeasure with Taika Waititi's comedic take on the character, saying the Thor series will need a drastically different tone if he does return to the MCU.
If his next MCU appearance is his last, Hemsworth will still have his hands full with another franchise role, Tyler Rake, when he decides to finally hang up his hammer. Plus, if Hemsworth personally enjoys Extraction's practical stuntwork more than Marvel's brand of action, it makes sense for him to prioritize the former, considering he's been doing the latter for over a decade. While much about Hemsworth's MCU future remains unknown, he will be back as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2, coming to Netflix in June 2023.
Source: EW