Prior to the deluge of lackluster live-action Disney remakes, there existed The Legend of Tarzan, a non-Disney remake that charged into cinemas with a cast of notable movie stars including Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, and Margot Robbie. Although it didn’t exactly fade away during its opening weekend, Tarzan fell short of securing a follow-up film.
Even if you haven’t watched the movie, if you recall anything from the Tarzan-filled summer, it’s likely the image of Skarsgård’s impeccably chiseled chest, prominently featured on buses and billboards—because Warner Bros. understood that the best way to promote the tale was through well-defined pectoral muscles.
Alexander Skarsgård Followed A Strict Fitness Regime
The 6’4″ Swedish actor was no stranger to sultry marketing. He made his American debut in Alan Ball’s decidedly mature HBO series, True Blood, often seen in tank tops or shirtless scenes. However, he was never as ripped as he was as Tarzan. So, how did Skarsgård transform himself into a chiseled jungle man? He committed to sculpting a six-pack.
Alexander Skarsgård received assistance from a fellow Swede, Magnus Lygdback, who served as his trainer and nutritionist. Lygdback invited us to a studio in Santa Monica to delve into the details of Skarsgård’s “rigorous dietary regimen.”
“It’s not for everyone,” he cautioned right from the start. Given the short preparation periods, actors often need to make rapid progress, which entails consuming large quantities of food quickly.
The process begins with the “building phase” or bulking phase, followed by the “cutting cycle,” during which actors strive for a shredded physique. Finally, there’s the maintenance period, where the actor must retain their muscle mass throughout filming. In Skarsgård’s case, he was already quite large, so Lygdback primarily focused on the cutting phase.
Alexander Skarsgård Hated His Diet
In preparation for the role, Alexander adhered to a rigorous diet and workout routine. Initially, he eliminated gluten, sugar, dairy, and alcohol from his diet. Following this, he consumed a daily intake of 6,000 calories and engaged in weightlifting, all to prepare for the physically demanding shirtless treetop acrobatics scenes.
“We did quite a bit of the vine-swinging ourselves,” he says. “But they also had a 3D scan of my body, so they had Augusts Dakteris, one of the greatest trapeze artists in the world, who came in. We sat there with our coffees watching him do these amazing stunts on the vine. Then they would remove his body, use his movements, and replace it with my body. So I’m watching the movie, and I recognise myself doing these Olympic stunts. But Augusts deserves that credit!”
After adhering to a strict diet for months, he was relieved to indulge in some dietary indulgences.
The Legend of Tarzan is available for rent and purchase on Google Play.
Source: YouTube
