Chris Pratt’s New Movie Has A Sweet Die Hard Nod To Bruce Willis, But It Led To An Injury

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Chris Pratt is very intentional about how he approaches action roles. Sometimes he tones things down, and other times he intentionally creates challenges for his character. For his upcoming 2026 sci-fi thriller, Mercy, Pratt made a particular decision that fans of classic action movies—especially Die Hard—will instantly recognize as a tribute. It’s a smart reference, but it also meant he faced some difficulties during filming.

Chris Pratt recently talked about how Bruce Willis influenced his performance in their new movie, during an interview with Extra. In a clip posted on YouTube alongside his co-star Rebecca Ferguson, Pratt explained that he chose to film many scenes barefoot as a nod to Willis’s iconic role as John McClane years ago. He said the decision was deliberate, aiming to capture a similar feel.

I deliberately made a reference to the movie Die Hard with that scene. I wanted to show vulnerability by having the character barefoot. The idea was to create a feeling of being trapped and claustrophobic, and being without shoes added to that sense of helplessness.

The feeling of vulnerability is central to the film Mercy. The story follows a detective, played by Pratt, who is accused of murdering his wife and must convince an AI judge, played by Ferguson, of his innocence. This creates an incredibly tense situation where he’s losing control on every level, both physically and mentally. Even a small act like taking off someone’s shoes feels significant and immediately increases the tension.

Naturally, action sequences aren’t created without careful planning, and the voice actor for Super Mario Bros. was eager to point out that safety remained the top concern. Like all large-scale productions, Mercy employed a complete stunt team and spent a lot of time rehearsing to ensure the fight choreography was perfect before filming began. He went on to say:

I worked with a stuntman, as most actors do. By the time we filmed the actual stunts, we’d practiced them many times during rehearsals, and everything was set up with the cameras just right, so it would all look smooth and natural.

Despite all the planning, unexpected problems can still happen. Early in filming for Jurassic World, the film’s star was forcefully thrown into a wall and injured. The actor, who started as a supporting character before becoming the lead, explained:

I collided with a wall during a tackle, and my foot struck a post. I’m getting to the age where injuries seem to linger, and I knew this one would likely bother me for a long time. Thankfully, I was able to rest for two weeks, because my ankle was seriously injured during that time.

It’s almost perfect that this happened. Die Hard remains popular because John McClane always suffers to achieve his goals – he’s constantly injured and struggles for every victory. Chris Pratt’s attempt to emulate that classic 80s action hero spirit led to a real injury, but luckily, the timing couldn’t have been better. The script for the following weeks involved his character being mostly seated and restrained, so he was able to continue filming despite being hurt.

Movie injuries aren’t permanent – they disappear when the film ends. Real-life injuries, however, stick with you. Despite this, Pratt seems okay with taking the risk. The joke worked, the scene became more suspenseful, and the film Mercy actually gained something from showing that vulnerability.

Mercy opens in theaters January 23, so be sure to check your local listings for show times.

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2026-01-21 21:40