Fans go ape for Swedish Tarzan hunk Skarsgård
Fans have gone bananas for the first official trailer of 'The Legend of Tarzan', a role which forced Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård to hone his acting skills…as well as his abs.
The first full trailer of the newest reincarnation of Tarzan shows the 'True Blood' hunk swinging his way through the jungle to rescue his beloved Jane (Margot Robbie) from the latest bunch of crooks in their path, headed by villain extraordinaire Christopher Waltz.
In director David Yates' twist on the original tale, the movie has Tarzan enjoying a peaceful life as Lord Greystoke back in Victorian London. But when he returns to the Congo, invited as an emissary of parliament, the adventure kicks off.
"It's almost the opposite of the classic tale, where it's about taming the beast. This is about a man who's holding back and slowly as you peel off the layers, he reverts back to a more animalistic state and lets that side of his personality out," Skarsgård told USA Today.
To get in shape for the physically demanding part, the tall Swede spent four months in the gym before he began shooting. He said: "I basically didn't see my family or my friends."
The 39-year-old was also put in choreography training to learn to switch effortlessly from 19th century British gentleman to swinging through trees as Congo jungle apeman – although presumably much of the latter was done with the help of CGI and green screens.
"[Choreographer Wayne McGregor] works mostly with the best contemporary ballet dancers in the world, so it was quite unusual for him to work with somebody like me who can't touch their toes," said Skarsgård.
Shirtless Alexander Skarsgard kisses Margot Robbie in The Legend Of Tarzan ... https://t.co/8ehuocxK4r
— Alexander Guide (@AlexanderGuide) December 10, 2015
A member of Sweden's most famous acting family (his father, Stellan, has starred in a diverse range of films including 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean'), Skarsgård got his Hollywood breakthrough in vampire television action drama 'True Blood' in 2008.
He's been wowing audiences and capturing hearts since, and it was no different on Thursday morning when the Tarzan trailer went viral just hours after its release.
"I'm extremely hyped," wrote one fan on Twitter. "Want to feel less of a man? Want to check out some frankly hot abs? Then give Alexander Skarsgård in Tarzan a go," wrote another.
Alexander Skarsgard's abs look like challah. #Tarzan pic.twitter.com/ctJr5dg4OQ
— David Hines (@hradzka) December 10, 2015
'The Legend of Tarzan' will be released on July 1st next year and also stars Samuel L Jackson and Djimon Hounsou.
Comments
See Also
The first full trailer of the newest reincarnation of Tarzan shows the 'True Blood' hunk swinging his way through the jungle to rescue his beloved Jane (Margot Robbie) from the latest bunch of crooks in their path, headed by villain extraordinaire Christopher Waltz.
In director David Yates' twist on the original tale, the movie has Tarzan enjoying a peaceful life as Lord Greystoke back in Victorian London. But when he returns to the Congo, invited as an emissary of parliament, the adventure kicks off.
"It's almost the opposite of the classic tale, where it's about taming the beast. This is about a man who's holding back and slowly as you peel off the layers, he reverts back to a more animalistic state and lets that side of his personality out," Skarsgård told USA Today.
To get in shape for the physically demanding part, the tall Swede spent four months in the gym before he began shooting. He said: "I basically didn't see my family or my friends."
The 39-year-old was also put in choreography training to learn to switch effortlessly from 19th century British gentleman to swinging through trees as Congo jungle apeman – although presumably much of the latter was done with the help of CGI and green screens.
"[Choreographer Wayne McGregor] works mostly with the best contemporary ballet dancers in the world, so it was quite unusual for him to work with somebody like me who can't touch their toes," said Skarsgård.
Shirtless Alexander Skarsgard kisses Margot Robbie in The Legend Of Tarzan ... https://t.co/8ehuocxK4r
— Alexander Guide (@AlexanderGuide) December 10, 2015
A member of Sweden's most famous acting family (his father, Stellan, has starred in a diverse range of films including 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean'), Skarsgård got his Hollywood breakthrough in vampire television action drama 'True Blood' in 2008.
He's been wowing audiences and capturing hearts since, and it was no different on Thursday morning when the Tarzan trailer went viral just hours after its release.
"I'm extremely hyped," wrote one fan on Twitter. "Want to feel less of a man? Want to check out some frankly hot abs? Then give Alexander Skarsgård in Tarzan a go," wrote another.
Alexander Skarsgard's abs look like challah. #Tarzan pic.twitter.com/ctJr5dg4OQ
— David Hines (@hradzka) December 10, 2015
'The Legend of Tarzan' will be released on July 1st next year and also stars Samuel L Jackson and Djimon Hounsou.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.