If you read part one of this list, you learned that The Revenant was not the easiest film to make – for the director, the crew and especially the actors. But that only scratched the surface of the strange things that went down on set. Check out part two below to find out even more of what the cast and crew had to endure.
Number Eight: Leonardo DiCaprio Ate Raw Bison Liver. This is a pretty disgusting thing to do no matter who you are, but it must have been even worse for Leo considering that he is normally a vegetarian.
Number Seven: It Was Shot Using Only Natural Light. This might seem natural since the movie is shot almost exclusively outdoors. But because of continuity, this meant that scenes were shot during very brief windows of time during the day, putting even more pressure on the cast and crew.
Number Six: Many Other Directors and Actors Have Passed on the Movie. Before Inarritu and DiCaprio took the challenge on, many other artists were attached for at least brief periods of time. Christian Bale and Samuel L. Jackson both almost played Leo’s role, and Korean director Chan-wook Park (known for Old Boy) was slated to direct.
Number Five: They Imported Ants for the Shoot. It was far too cold for ants to exist where they were shooting, so the crew actually imported live ants for the movie. For what, you ask? To cover Leo with, of course.
Number Four: Leo Nearly Got Hypothermia (More Than Once). As a precaution, EMTs traveled with the crew. They also lugged around a giant heated dryer to thaw out actors’ extremities.
Number Three: It Was So Cold at Times that the Camera Equipment Couldn’t Be Operated. You would think that if it’s too cold for the camera, it’s probably too cold for the humans, too.
Number Two: Because of the Director’s Insistence on Natural Light, Cast and Crew Regularly Had to Wake Up Before Sunrise. It’s not as intense as some of this other madness, but when you add it in with everything else, it’s that much more unpleasant to imagine.
Number One: Leo Slept in Animal Carcasses. His character sleeps in a horse carcass in the film, so Leo took it upon himself to sleep inside a dead animal in reality as well. He really wants that Oscar. That’s it for facts about The Revenant, thanks for reading!