Extraction 2 Director & Chris Hemsworth Explore the Sequel’s Complex, Fiery One Take Action Sequence

The Netflix action sequel, Extraction 2, features one of the biggest action sequences ever to grace the screen as Chris Hemsworth’s hero Tyler Rake lays waste to bad guys left-and-right in a 21-minute long ‘oner.’ Speaking with IGN, director Sam Hargrave has revealed the sheer level of effort that went into making the sequence, a sequence that took a lengthy 29 days to shoot.

“The rehearsal process [for the oner] was four or five months from conception to finding the locations. Mapping out the path, and then getting the actors doing all their moves. Then shooting, it took 29 days, I believe, to complete.”

Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth was required to be literally set on fire for the sequence, with the action star revealing that he would “burn” for around 15 seconds, throw a barrage of punches, and be put out. Before doing it all over again.

“Seven or eight takes we had. It was fun. As soon as my arm lit up, it was ‘Action!’ Because it would burn for probably 15 seconds or something, and by the end of that little sequence of punches and kicks and so on, if the fire wasn’t out, my instructions were to pat it out myself. It felt cool. It felt fun.”

While Hemsworth has been part of all manner of action scenes, ranging from the more grounded grit of Extraction to the lofty supernatural battles of Thor, the actor calls this one-take sequence “the most complex” by far.

“[It was] the most complex and had the most amount of choreography and moves that I’ve ever been a part of. And once we completed that, it felt like we had big tasks ahead of us. But once we checked that off, I had a big sigh of relief and a lot of pressure was lifted. And there was 300 or 400 extras or background artists, stunt performers within that shot. And it was shot as a oner. So everything had to be seamless. It was like a beautifully choreographed dance that all had to be perfect. So a lot of pressure, but the reward was hugely, hugely profound and exciting and collaborative. Yeah, it’s pretty special.”

RELATED: Chris Hemsworth Teases Extraction 2’s Deeper Story and Bigger Action at Netflix’s TUDUM

The Extraction 2 oner promises to be visceral in a way most action sequences these days simply aren’t, with Hemsworth revealing that most of the movie has been achieved using practical effects.

“Ninety-five percent of what you see on camera has been captured in the moment. And then for me, that’s so refreshing as an audience member, but also, the immersive experience as the actor.”

Again likening the world of Extraction to that of Marvel’s Thor, Hemsworth seems to be moving more and more away from the CGI-heavy antics of the MCU.

“I think we’ve all grown a little fatigued of the large, big, stunning visual effects. As amazing as they are, it ends up looking like you’re watching a video game. But it’s just an authenticity and a grit and a truth to what you’re seeing, because that’s real sweat. That’s real exhaustion that we’re going through. You’re grinding away in this fight sequences, and I don’t think you can really recreate that on a sound stage, green screen, and so on.”

Directed by Sam Hargrave, written by Joe Russo, Extraction 2 finds commando Tyler Rake back from the brink of death and embarking on a dangerous mission to save a ruthless gangster’s imprisoned family.

Extraction 2 is now streaming on Netflix, and a third movie is officially in development.