FROM MAC’S MOUTH
“It’s a lot of hard work,” says Lucas of his rebooted action role. And not just because he has big shoes to fill, taking over the lead from Richard Dean Anderson as the iconic TV hero. “We’ve tried to do all of the stunts in reality – there’s not a lot of CGI going on in our show.” Here is what else Lucas had to say when we rang him up in LA ahead of MacGyver’s return to SA screens…
Did you get any advice from
the original MacGyver? No, I haven’t met him yet. I’d love to and we’re all hoping that at some point he’ll be part of our show. It might’ve helped prepare me for some of the stunts though [Laughs].
So you did your own stunt work? As much as they let me. I “let” a 250lb [113kg] guy pick me up in the air and slam me onto the back of a truck though. The hardest one was running for a scene that we reshot repeatedly – I ran about 2 miles [3.2km]. I should’ve got a stunt double for that [Laughs].
Do you think this reboot will appeal to
fans of the original series? Well, my hair is pretty awesome – like the original MacGyver’s. And we have the same concept. We have a character who deals with death and while there is technology, we try to keep me MacGyvering more than playing with computers.
What was your family’s reaction when
you got the role? My dad was like, “Oh man, as long as you bring all that stuff back, I don’t really care what else is in the show!” I don’t think I’ve ever seen him or my uncle so excited about anything else that I’ve done.
And have you learnt anything cool
on set? I can make an endoscope – you know, one of those bendy cameras that you can put under a door. I made one the other day and it actually works.