10 Actors Who Refused To Use Stunt Doubles For Epic Fight Scenes

Gina Carano is no ordinary actress. With a Mixed Martial Arts record of 7-1 from eight fights prior to Haywire (2011), Carano already had sufficient fighting experience. She started training in Muay Thai at 21 years old, and was in her first fight five months later. While Haywire was her first cinematic project, she had starred in the direct-to-video classic Blood and Bone two years earlier. Michael Fassbender had made his cinematic debut in 300 (2007) in a bit-part role, and showcased his versatility in appearances in Quentin Tarantino war epic Inglorious Basterds (2009) and the X-Men franchise. These films in particular required a level of physicality Fassbender had no issues with.

In preparation for Haywire, Director Steven Soderbergh organized six week's-worth of intensive tactical training for Carano involving various skills such as close-range gun work and hostage rescue. Soderbergh also recruited Aaron Cohen – an ex-Isreali special ops fighter – to serve as her coach. This, in addition to her MMA skills, provided the perfect preparation to play a private contractor in the film.

Carano and Fassbender worked on fight sequences together, with Gina teaching the actor hand-to-hand combat during filming. Fassbender then asked to meet Cohen, rather than the actor being assigned to the coach. Fassbender was taught weapons manoeuvring and hostage situation logistics as well. The culmination of the preparation is evident in the frantic fight scene between Carano’s Mallory Kane and Fassbender’s Paul in the second act of the film.

This fight involves a seamless exchange between Carano and Fassbender, with both countering the other at points with elbows and knees. Martial arts training is evident due to the flow of the counter punches and leg kicks. Carano then neutralises Fassbender with a triangle choke, a well-known mixed martial arts move.