Taylor Kitsch, known for his role as Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights, embodies the rugged spirit of Isaac in Netflix’s new Western, American Primeval. However, the physical demands of the role pushed Kitsch to his limits, resulting in a significant injury during filming.
In a fight scene for the second episode, a stunt went awry, leaving the 43-year-old actor with a broken foot. “The guy was a big boy, so when he landed on my foot, I knew it was broken,” Kitsch recalls. Despite the immediate pain, he persevered, finishing the day’s shoot. A doctor’s visit confirmed the severity of the injury, initially requiring a four-week recovery in a boot. However, a follow-up appointment revealed the need for immediate surgery. “They cut a bone out of my foot, and I was on a couch for six weeks and couldn’t walk,” Kitsch explains. The surgery and subsequent recovery sidelined him for months, requiring another six weeks in a boot. The procedure also resulted in nerve damage, leaving his foot susceptible to cold.
Beyond the broken foot, American Primeval, premiering January 9th, presented numerous physical challenges for Kitsch. To portray Isaac, a man grappling with the loss of his family, Kitsch intentionally lost a significant amount of weight. “When you meet Isaac, he’s got not a whole lot of purpose left…so he’s kind of just existing,” he says. The role also demanded extensive horseback riding, a skill Kitsch admits he needed to hone. He attended a three-week cowboy camp before filming and practiced riding at a friend’s ranch in Montana, where he currently resides. “That’s way more physical than you think it’s going to be too,” he adds.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(574×0:576×2)/taylor_kitsch-headshot2024-0c5a4d835dfa4becb8ecd29f5a9a908c.jpg)
Kitsch describes working with horses as akin to “dealing with a child.” He acknowledges the unpredictable nature of the animals, stating, “If they don’t want to do something…they just will do whatever they want.” While challenging, Kitsch credits his stunt double and the wranglers for their expertise, especially during the demanding winter conditions. “I’m sitting there in a boot in the snow like, ‘All right, JJ, you got this,’ and he would do it in one take. So you wisen up a little.”
The harsh conditions and physical demands of filming often prompted lighthearted moments between Kitsch and costar Betty Gilpin. They would often joke about the hardships of frontier life, expressing gratitude for not living in that era.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(719×272:721×274)/friday-night-lights-reboot-season-1-121224-3eece6f29bb247b382fd3fe875767ed8.jpg)
American Primeval marks Kitsch’s fifth collaboration with director Pete Berg, a relationship spanning nearly two decades since their work on Friday Night Lights. Kitsch credits Berg for taking a chance on him early in his career and fostering a deep trust that allows for creative risk-taking. “With any set, trust is everything. So when you have almost 20 years working together off and on, it’s already there,” Kitsch reflects. He values the diversity of roles Berg offers him, avoiding typecasting and consistently presenting new challenges.
Kitsch describes American Primeval as “my own little Braveheart: so raw and period.” He expresses his enthusiasm for tackling such demanding roles and hopes to continue portraying complex characters in compelling stories. American Primeval premieres on Netflix on January 9th.
