Daisy Ridley has opened up about the behind-the-scenes challenges she faced while filming the sci-fi flop that starred her alongside Tom Holland, three years after the movie’s release. In 2021, Ridley was riding high on the success of her roles as the heroic Rey in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and its lucrative sequels. Holland, too, was a hot property after debuting as the MCU’s endearing Peter Parker in “Captain America: Civil War” and making numerous appearances in both “Spider-Man” solo films and “Avengers” blockbusters.
However, life outside their franchise comfort zones has been tough for both Ridley and Holland. Their non-Disney projects have received lukewarm responses both critically and commercially. Ridley’s films like “Sometimes I Think About Dying”, “Magpie”, “The Marsh King’s Daughter”, and “Young Woman and the Sea” didn’t create much of a stir. Holland also struggled when stepping out of his Spider-Man suit, with movies like “Cherry” and “The Devil All the Time” not faring well.
The duo’s “Chaos Walking” was a major box office disappointment in 2021, grossing just $13 million domestically against a budget of $100 – $120 million. The production was fraught with issues from the start. Principal photography began in 2017 with the famously challenging Doug Liman at the helm. The film was initially slated for a 2019 release but was pulled as budget-bloating reshoots were ordered, with Fede Alvarez taking over from Liman.
Now, three years after its delayed release and ultimate failure, Ridley is being candid about the difficulties of filming “Chaos Walking”. In an interview, she discussed Liman’s unconventional working style and highlighted a particularly harrowing scene where she had to play someone who couldn’t swim while being in a fast-flowing river. She said, “The filming of this was… not without its difficulties. Doug [Liman] works in a way that is different to most people that I’ve worked with. Very off-the-cuff. But this scene, I remember feeling the abject terror of playing someone who cannot swim, and going out into quite a fast running river. I can swim, but when you’re playing someone who can’t swim, the panic gets to you. But I love that outfit, love that wig, and we take what we can from these things.”
Ridley’s comments about “Chaos Walking” is that it appears she’d rather forget making this big-budget flop. Both Ridley and Holland have tried branching out into smaller, more edgy projects away from their Disney franchises, but have often missed the mark. “Chaos Walking”, which was an adaptation of a popular novel and directed by a filmmaker with a track record of hits, should have been a safer bet in theory. However, by the time it went into production, the dystopian YA sci-fi trend was losing steam, and it was completely over by the time it was released. Their supposed star power didn’t translate into box office success for this movie. Given all the reported issues like delays, reshoots, and a change in director, it’s clear the filming was chaotic. Ridley’s recollections only reinforce the negative reports from the set, and it’s understandable that she has less-than-fond memories, though she at least liked her hair and costume. Additionally, Ridley’s new thriller “Cleaner” is set to be released on February 21, 2025.
Related content: