Ryan Reynolds recently revealed that Salma Hayek slapped him shockingly hard in Lionsgate's The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. The action-comedy will be released in theatres this summer after having been delayed for nearly a year due to the pandemic.
Director Patrick Hughes' The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard is the sequel to 2017's The Hitman’s Bodyguard. The follow-up will see bodyguard Michael Bryce (Reynolds) attempt to save con artist Sonia Kincaid (Hayek) and her husband Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) once more. The large ensemble cast includes Captain America: Civil War star Frank Grillo, Antonio Banderas, and Morgan Freeman. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, The Hitman's Bodyguard grossed $176 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.
In a recent Variety profile on Hayek, Reynolds noted that she didn’t hold back when she had to slap him in a scene. “In 'Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, I'm slapped in the face twice by Salma and once by Samuel L. Jackson,” said Reynolds. However, it was Hayek who didn't hold back while shooting the sequence, not at all. Reynolds explained, "I can still feel the sharp sting of her tiny hand working its way into my soft Hollywood cheekbones. May God have mercy on her soul.” The sarcastic Deadpool star did have some complimentary words for his co-star, asserting that Hayek came to set with a writer’s mind and tried to improve each scene in the film.
Hayek’s Sonia is expected to have a larger role in the Hitman's Bodyguard sequel after just appearing on-screen for only about two minutes in the first film. In the profile, the Oscar-nominated actress noted that she was shocked that she was asked to star in the sequel. “I’ve been in many movies where we get the call: ‘Oh, my God, you’re one of the most liked characters in the film,’” said Hayek, while adding, “but for the first time, there was a director that said, ‘I’m gonna listen to the audience.’” Hayek didn’t believe Hughes at first, but after talking to him, she realized that the director wanted to be involved in the whole process. “Then I said, ‘Let’s make it really interesting and talk about menopause in a funny way.’”
Hayek has numerous projects in the works. Soon after battling a near-fatal case of COVID-19, Hayek traveled to Italy to shoot Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci. The upcoming drama will explore how Patrizia Reggiani plotted to kill her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci. The all-star cast includes Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, and Jack Huston. Hayek will portray Pina Auriemma, the clairvoyant friend of Reggiani who was sentenced to 26 years in prison for organizing the murder.
The 54-year-old star will also star alongside Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, and Kit Harington in Marvel’s Eternals. Directed by recent Oscar winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), the blockbuster will follow a species of immortal aliens who are forced to reunite to protect mankind from a humanoid race called the Deviants. The anticipated film is part of Marvel Studios' Phase Four lineup and will be released in the theatres this November.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard will be released in theatres on June 16, 2021.
Source: Variety