Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey Endured Week-Long Wedgies Filming Jurassic World Rebirth Stunt
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In an exclusive interview with People, Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey revealed the surprisingly uncomfortable reality behind one of the most thrilling stunts in Jurassic World Rebirth. During a scene where their characters, Zora Bennett and Dr. Henry Loomis, rappel down a cliff to reach a pterosaur’s nest, both actors had to wear double harnesses—a setup that led to a week of persistent wedgies.
Johansson, 40, explained the complexity: “We wore harnesses under our actual harness. You have a movie harness that looks like a harness, then you have an actual harness that’s hooked up to a line, because you’re not actually abseiling, you’re on a stunt rig.” Bailey, 37, added humorously, “You’re like a baby in a papoose.”
The discomfort was undeniable. “I was happy to say goodbye to the harness,” Johansson said, with Bailey chiming in, “Yeah. Chafe with a capital C!”
Filming took place in diverse and challenging locations such as Malta and Thailand. Johansson described the shoot as “insane” but rewarding. She recounted the unpredictable elements, noting, “Half our set would wash away, and then 10 minutes later it would grow too large, and there’s no continuity to anything because the sun was moving in. It was just insane.”
The Avengers star also shared a vivid memory from their early days on set: “When we first got to Thailand, we had to do a camera test of the full costume and all that stuff, and just putting all the pieces of the costume together and then standing in a mosquito-infested bush, I was like, ‘This is really happening.’”
Bailey praised Johansson’s leadership and spirit, saying, “It was so apparent very quickly that it was going to be a knockout summer. She’s super funny, intelligent, kind. She led the film with such incredible energy, and that’s on and off camera.”
Johansson also spoke about the personal significance of leading a sequel in the Jurassic franchise, which she has loved since childhood. “I think as a huge fan, I’m just excited for Jurassic nerds to see it because I think they’ll like it a lot. And I hope that there are other 10-year-olds that have the same experience that I did when I saw the first Jurassic in theaters, where they can just be completely carried away for two hours. It makes you dream.”
Jurassic World Rebirth is now in theaters, promising fans an exhilarating new chapter full of heart, humor, and—yes—some serious stunt-related discomfort.