In this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo boards the wild, rowdy, and frankly chaotic flight of “Fight or Flight” with star Josh Hartnett and director James Madigan. Picture this: you’re stuck on a plane, half-drunk, and suddenly everyone around you turns out to be deadly assassins—basically, the worst flight imaginable. That’s precisely the mess Lucas (Hartnett) finds himself navigating in this adrenaline-charged comedy-action flick. Known for his second-unit action chops on blockbusters like “Transformers” and “The Meg,” Madigan boldly steps up to the plate, making an assured directorial debut with a scrappy, humorous energy that pairs perfectly with Hartnett’s laid-back charisma. The film also features a stellar ensemble including Katee Sackhoff, Charithra Chandran, and Julian Kostov.
Hartnett explained that Madigan’s initial pitch immediately hooked him. “One of the first things James said was, ‘I want the action sequences to feel like musical numbers,’” Hartnett laughed. “He wanted character growth to happen through action. That felt essential—and honestly, pretty exciting.”
Despite the physical toll, the actor also revealed his eagerness to tackle the stunts. “I was 44 or 45 years old when we shot it. So I really thought that this might be my last chance to do something like this. And like the ‘John Wick’ films that these guys produced as well, are like, well, Keanu’s doing his own stunts,” Hartnett confessed. “The thing that was essential for me was that I was able to do the stunts.”
Madigan was quick to praise Hartnett’s dedication, noting it significantly raised the film’s gritty realism. “Josh has incredible natural athleticism,” Madigan remarked. “Since we had to choreograph fights almost on the spot, Josh’s willingness let us keep the action authentic and character-driven. It keeps you glued and genuinely invested.”
The pair also dished about the film’s scrappy, DIY production vibe born out of a tight budget and even tighter schedule. “Every day was a fresh disaster waiting to happen,” Madigan joked. “I shot sky footage out of my airplane window on my iPhone—just placeholder stuff originally—and somehow it wound up in the final film.”
With recent buzz around a possible reboot of Hartnett’s cult favorite ’90s horror film “The Faculty,” he cleared up any confusion about reprising his beloved role of Zeke. “We did talk about bringing Zeke back,” Hartnett admitted, “but only if Robert Rodriguez directed and the entire original cast returned. I wouldn’t want to dishonor Zeke by shifting people’s memories of him. I really loved that character and movie exactly as it was. They’re moving the story elsewhere, and that’s fine.”
Reflecting on his eclectic career choices, Hartnett emphasized his preference for original projects over sequels. “I prefer originals,” he stated plainly. “‘Fight or Flight’ isn’t built on existing IP. I love the excitement when something is fresh and unpredictable.”
“Fight or Flight” is now playing in theaters.
The Playlist Presents: Josh Hartnett & James Madigan’s Action Film Recommendation Playlist:
- “The Matrix” (1999) (Recommended by both Josh and James)
- “The Raid” (2011) (Recommended by both Josh and James)
- “The Last Boy Scout” (1991)
- “Kung Fu Hustle” (2004)
- “Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman” (2003)
- “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
- “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)
- “Oldboy” (2003)
- “The Villainess” (2017)
