Daniel MacPherson, best known for his role in the long-running soap opera Neighbours, has disclosed details of a severe injury he sustained during the filming of the upcoming mixed martial arts blockbuster, Beast. The actor revealed he suffered a torn adductor muscle and a fractured hip after being lifted by former South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league star George Burgess during a crucial scene.
Filming Incident in Front of Massive Crowd
The injury occurred while shooting the final fight sequence in Thailand, with an audience of 10,000 people present at the venue. MacPherson described the moment on Nova's Breakfast radio show, stating, "George Burgess picked me up in The Octagon in Thailand, which was shot in front of 10,000 people and tore my adductor and fractured my pelvis." He added that he was already dealing with a broken nose and other minor injuries at the time.
Long Recovery Process
MacPherson emphasised that his recovery has been a gradual process, noting, "Around 12 months later, I'm slowly putting my body back together." A clip of his revelation has circulated on social media, with Burgess himself reposting it on his Instagram story alongside a playful caption: "I did help you walk out of The Octagon though!!"
Praise for Burgess's Acting Skills
Despite the injury, MacPherson was full of admiration for Burgess's performance in the film. He praised the former rugby league professional, saying, "Mate, he's brilliant. He's an actor! He plays my best mate in the film. He's a fantastic actor! He's a natural actor. It's in him. He's lovely. He's going to come up great in the film." Burgess, who retired from professional rugby league in 2022 at age 30, has been building a promising film career, recently appearing alongside Hollywood stars Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe in the thriller The Weight.
Logistics and Training for the Role
MacPherson also shed light on the extensive preparations involved in making Beast. He explained that his character undergoes "an epic training montage" to prepare for the final showdown, which was filmed in Bangkok. "We shot the end of this film in front of 10,000 people in a live arena in Bangkok, where there were three championship fights," he said. "We were jumping in and out between those fights. So it looks epic."
To authentically portray an MMA fighter, MacPherson dedicated two and a half years to intensive training before filming began. He sought advice from rugby league great Paul Gallen to secure a boxing coach, then expanded his regimen to include MMA and jiu-jitsu. Due to scheduling delays, primarily involving co-writer and co-star Russell Crowe, the film's production spanned three years, allowing MacPherson to immerse himself fully in the role. He even travelled to Thailand for professional MMA sparring classes, adopting a method approach where his fellow trainees were unaware he was an actor.
Film Details and Release
Beast, co-written by Russell Crowe who also stars as MacPherson's coach, follows the story of an MMA fighter emerging from retirement for one last bout. The film is scheduled for release in the United States on April 10, with Australian cinema screenings following the subsequent week. MacPherson's injury revelation highlights the physical demands and risks associated with such high-intensity film productions, even for experienced actors.
