Jennifer Garner has an intense fight scene in the new season of “The Last Thing He Told Me,” and luckily didn’t need to be introduced to her scene partner because she bit a chunk out of his ear during a previous film they both worked on.
Garner, who serves as executive producer as well as the lead actor of the Apple TV series, appeared on stage Tuesday at the streamer’s press day at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar where she shared the interesting story, alongside co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
A clip of the fight scene was introduced by moderator and executive producer Laura Dave, who is also the author of the book the series is based on. The scene has a uniformed man, played by actor and stunt performer Sala Baker, knocking on Garner’s character Hannah Hall’s door just as she received a text directing her to “get out of the house.” He enters her home before she can flee which is when the intense battle takes place in her kitchen.
“Can I just say that the performer, Sal, the last time I fought him was in ‘The Kingdom,’” Garner said, referring to the 2007 film also starring Jamie Foxx and Jason Bateman. Baker played a role credited as The Kidnapper. “Pete Berg, who was the director, told him to try to kill me. We did not have a lot of choreography, and he told me to do anything I could to survive. He did, and I did, and I ended up scrambling onto his back. I bit his ear, and we have a picture of him missing a chunk of ear, because we were not kidding.”
Nearly 20 years later, the two reunited on “The Last Thing He Told Me,” where they battle once more.
“We went for it in a way that the crew — this was maybe our first or second day of shooting — were like, ‘Can you be careful with her?’ I was like, ‘No, no, no, no, he’s not going to be careful. I’m not going to be careful. Just back out of the way. I have a score to settle here.’ And Sal was with us the entire season. So prepare yourselves.”
The story made Coster-Waldau quite perplexed and asked, “Can we just go over that again? You bit his ear off?”
Garner replied, “Like Mike Tyson.” He then quipped, “Why are you all looking as if this is a great thing? What is wrong with you people?”
Garner, replying with a smile said, “Don’t make me mad. I seem nice. I’ve warned you before.” Coster-Waldau then backpedaled. “Oh my god, no, I love you.”
The duo shared the stage with co-stars Angourie Rice, Judy Greer and Rita Wilson where the “Alias” alum teased the second season will offer up resolutions to the cliffhanger that ended season one that saw Coster-Waldau’s Owen Michaels, husband to Garner’s character, mysteriously reappearing with a grown out beard.
Season 2 of “The Last Thing He Told Me” drops Feb. 20 on Apple TV.
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