Summary
Jeff Nichols reveals which actor fromThe Bikeriderswas not allowed to get on a bike. Directed by Nichols,The Bikeridersis based on a true storyand is a highly anticipated crime drama about a young man named Benny who falls in love with a woman named Kathy, all the while wrapped up in a motorcycle club that commits increasingly dangerous acts, forcing him to choose between Kathy and his club. The film features aleading cast including Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Boyd Holbrook, and Norman Reedus.
Speaking withReelBlend Podcast, Nichols revealed that “all of the men go through training,” except for one actor: Shannon.In Shannon’s case, the team did not allow him to “get near a motorcycle,“and, as Nichols joked, they “barely let him lean on a motorcycle.” Nichols explained that this was actually Shannon’s preference:
So all of them, to be honest, all of the men go through training. Now, some guys took to it better than others. Sadly, for everyone, Michael Shannon wasn’t allowed to, you know, get near a motorcycle. We barely let him lean on a motorcycle. [laughs]
You know, when we made Midnight Special, he didn’t even have a driver’s license. It was like, we gotta teach Mike how to drive for this scene. I mean, he’s great. He’s obviously a genius and super talented, so I imagine, had we put him on a bike, he would have learned it very quickly. But that was one of the first questions he asked, he was like, ‘I don’t have to learn how to ride, do I?’
The Riding In The Bikeriders Is Intense
It Was Challenging Even For The Experienced Cast Members
Even though Shannon avoided manning a motorcycle himself,The Bikeridersoverall has intense riding scenes. Just this week, Shannon’s co-star, Butler, explained his experience with a riding accident onThe Bikeridersset. He was filming a scene at 3am that required him to start up his motorcycle and ride towards some train tracks, and turn around when he got there. When he unexpectedly hit a wet pile of leaves before stopping, he was flung from the bike.
Butler was luckily okay during this incident, but the fact that it happened shows just how intenseThe Bikeriderswas in terms of bike riding requirements. And it wasn’t just a risk for the inexperienced - earlier in this same interview, Nichols explained that the era-appropriate bikes used for the film were mostly from before motorcycle controls were standardized, meaning that each operated in a unique way. Riders accustomed to modern setups had to re-learn everything, which the director argues might’ve made film more challenging for them than for relative newbies.
The Bikeriders' Post-Credits Photos Explained
The Bikeriders includes special images after the film’s ending, and the post-credits photos have a direct connection to the movie’s true story.
The Bikeriderscastmembers who trained extensively were likely given more time on the bikes, which is good for the film, but made a potential disaster more likely. Adding to the danger was the fact that the characters largely don’t wear helmets. It’s no wonder that the filmmakers weren’t willing to take the risk of teaching Shannon, especially if he himself wasn’t too keen on learning.
The Bikeriders
Cast
The Bikeriders is a 2024 drama exploring the turbulent relationship between Kathy and Benny, a member of the Vandals motorcycle club. As the club delves into violence, Benny faces a critical choice between staying with Kathy and his allegiance to the club.
