Leonardo DiCaprio Was Attacked While Filming This 2016 Moive, But The Behind The Scenes Story May Not Be What Fans Expected

Leonardo DiCaprio's scene from The Revenant has become a topic of conversation even for those who haven't seen the film.

The Revenant is a gripping film starring Leonardo DiCaprio that revolves around the true story of Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who was left for dead by his companions after being mauled by a grizzly bear. The film showcases how Glass was fueled by the will to survive and sought revenge on those who had betrayed him. Over the course of 6 weeks, he crawled to the nearest settlement in South Dakota where he finally found solace and strength. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers an incredible portrayal of Glass in this epic tale of survival and resilience.

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Most notably, however, is not the actual story told in the movie but the scene from The Revenant that has become a topic of conversation even for those who haven't seen the film. With Leonardo DiCaprio's big Oscar win for lead actor and the movie's heavily promoted clips, the scene has been widely circulated and discussed. Bringing about the question, who or what was it that actually attacked DiCaprio in the scene?

In an interview at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Leonardo said, "You read the screenplay and it's like, Hugh Glass fights the bear. I was like, ‘So what do I do? Do I give him a right hook? How do I fight a bear?" DiCaprio, of course, quickly found out.

"It's not a fight at all, you’re just being mauled and it's like a giant cat throwing around a ball of yarn around the forest," he explained. Hugh Glass was actually attacked by a real bear. The female bear was a mother who thought her cubs were in danger, and as the saying goes, "Don't mess with mama bear."

The Revenant's bear attack scene is a technical and narrative masterpiece that adds to the movie's unforgettable survival story. However, it raises the question of how it was shot. Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu has been vague about the specifics, likely to preserve the mystery and magic of his film. Nonetheless, with some research, many of the filmmaker's secrets have been uncovered for those who are curious.

Some of the techniques used to create the scene include the use of natural light, handheld cameras, and extensive rehearsals with the actors. Iñárritu also employed the help of a team of visual effects artists to seamlessly stitch together different shots and remove any unwanted elements. The result is a breathtaking sequence that immerses the audience in the harsh and unforgiving world of the film. It's a testament to Iñárritu's skill as a filmmaker and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of cinema.

The Revenant's production team took precautions to ensure the safety of their crew during the bear scene, even though the bear on screen was not real. Despite this, the scene remains one of the most memorable and intense moments in the film, which is reflected in its impressive 12 Oscar nominations.

The scene was achieved through a combination of practical effects, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and the use of a stuntman in a bear suit. The production team wanted to create a realistic and intense scene, but they also wanted to ensure the safety of their cast and crew. The use of a stuntman in a bear suit allowed for greater control over the scene and minimized the risk of injury. The CGI was then used to enhance the realism of the scene and create the illusion of a real bear attacking DiCaprio's character.

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Glenn Ennis, is the seasoned stuntman who took on the role. With experience working on movies like The Watchmen and Freddy vs Jason, Ennis donned a unique costume to assist in filming the intense scene in which DiCaprio's character is brutally attacked by a bear. At 51 years old, Ennis is no stranger to tackling dangerous stunts and it showed. He was able to execute the harrowing sequence with such precision it was beyond believable.

The Revenant was an extremely difficult movie to film, bear attack or not. While filming the movie, Leonardo faced numerous challenges that tested his limits. He had to consume raw bison liver, which made him sick, and sleep inside an animal carcass, to prepare for filming in sub-zero temperatures reaching as low as below 25°C (-13°F).

Canada produces very harsh winter weather, so the first part of the movie was filmed there. However, filming fell behind schedule and as temperatures rose with the onset of summer the snow started melting. Because of this, it became necessary to relocate the entire movie set to southern Argentina where weather conditions mirrored those of the Canadian winters they started with.

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Another amazing part of filming The Revenant is that one of the scenes features a genuine avalanche, there was no CGI used at all. The avalanche was set off by planes dropping explosives on Fortress Mountain in Alberta, Canada. Cranes were strategically placed to capture the avalanche as it occurred. Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu was understandably anxious about filming this scene since there was no opportunity for a reshoot. He described it as both nerve-wracking and exhilarating.

Lastly, and possibly most interestingly, The Revenant is the very first time in Leonardo DiCaprio's career he played a non-verbal role. Aside from 10 minutes out of the 2 hours and 36 minutes of the movie, he doesn't speak at all. In an interview Leo said, "It was a different type of challenge for me because I’ve played a lot of very vocal characters. It's something that I really wanted to investigate, playing a character who says almost nothing. How do you relay an emotional journey and get in tune with this man's angst … without words?" Whatever it was, he figured it out, because despite his controversial dating life, Leo shows up for his films. The Revenant is most certainly one of Leonardo DiCaprio's best films to date.

Sarah has a Fashion Marketing degree from the Art Institute of Chicago and has always had a love for fashion. She is the mother of four boys and aside from her children and writing, her biggest joy is being of service to others and raising awareness for prematurity.