Resident Evil Star Explains Why He Did Not Train Before Filming

Austin Abrams felt that being in good physical shape would only hinder his character.

In Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil movie, Austin Abrams’ character has to run a lot, but the actor deliberately skipped working out before filming. In his opinion, good physical shape would only have harmed the image of an ordinary medical courier who never prepared for prolonged chases and the fight for survival:

For the same reason, Abrams did not rehearse certain scenes beforehand in order to preserve his natural reactions without thinking about how cool he looked or sounded on camera:

Filming took place in Prague during the winter and proved to be a physical test for the actor on its own. On some days, freezing rain froze right onto his clothing, and part of the farm scenes were filmed during a genuine snowfall. Abrams decided to use the cold and discomfort in shaping his character, as they helped him convey Brian’s helplessness.