Jake Gyllenhaal is known for taking on eccentric roles and committing fully to his characters. However, according to a recent report, his behavior went beyond dedication and into the realm of bizarre while preparing for the now-canceled survival drama Suddenly. Was Gyllenhaal intentionally trying to get himself fired from the $26 million production? His actions certainly seem to point in that direction.

Why Did Jake Gyllenhaal Jump in Freezing Waters Half-Na*ed?

Jake Gyllenhaal in Road House
Jake Gyllenhaal in Road House

The two-person film was set to star Jake Gyllenhaal and Vanessa Kirby as lovers trapped on a freezing island. With filming set for autumn 2021 in Iceland, everything seemed on track. But when Gyllenhaal arrived on location, his conduct became increasingly erratic.

The report from Film Stories describes several strange demands Gyllenhaal made, including suddenly stripping down to his underwear and jumping into the frigid Icelandic waters in front of the shocked crew.

“When I see the sea, I swim in the sea,” he reportedly stated.

Was this a Method acting attempt to get in character? Or an act of defiance against the production?

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Jake Gyllenhaal’s Unreasonable Demands Delayed Filming

supervillain Mysterio
Jake Gyllenhaal as supervillain Mysterio

Additional peculiar behaviors included Gyllenhaal specifying the color of his rental car, reading the script in silly accents with Kirby, and insisting his character be rewritten as an ex-soldier.

On the fourth day, matters reached a breaking point. Gyllenhaal kept demanding script changes, at one point even suggesting set builders should sleep in their cars. This led producer Alain Attal to refuse further tweaks. With their “visions diverging too much,” director Thomas Bidegain said while Gyllenhaal’s motivations remain unclear, his unprofessional behavior had direct consequences for others involved.

Over 30 Icelandic crew members suddenly found themselves without work. And director Bidegain missed a chance at his Hollywood directorial debut. The now-canceled film also leaves stars Gyllenhaal and Kirby without a new project to promote. For Gyllenhaal, his upcoming release is Michael Bay’s action flick Ambulance. The question is whether audiences will view Gyllenhaal’s behavior as eccentric artistic expression or unhinged diva antics. Here are a few fan reactions: 

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Did Jake Gyllenhaal Want Out of His Own Movie?

Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake Gyllenhaal

Weeks later, Kirby allegedly tried buying the script to reshoot with Gyllenhaal but without Bidegain. The director refused. However, Bidegain did rewrite the film in French with different stars, retitling it as Suddenly Alone.

So did Gyllenhaal intentionally act strangely in hopes of getting fired from Suddenly? His behavior lends credibility to this theory. If so, why remain attached while Kirby pursued a reboot?

The bizarre demands and actions seem perfectly tailored to disrupt filming at the last minute. We may never know the full story. But something was clearly amiss on the set of Suddenly for it to entirely implode after just four days of filming. And Gyllenhaal’s unchecked “creative differences” were evidently at the crux.

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Only time will tell if this bizarre chapter hurts or helps his box office draw going forward. But one thing’s for sure Iceland crew members likely won’t be eager to work with Gyllenhaal anytime soon. The bridge he burnt was made of ice, and the fire was his own doing.

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