MOVIE NEWS – Orlando Bloom, the legendary star of Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, underwent a punishing transformation for his newest project. In The Cut, he plays a boxer fighting to reclaim the spotlight, enduring extreme training and severe weight loss. The actor admits that the process left a devastating mark on his body.

Bloom spoke to People magazine about the sports drama, which hits theaters on September 5. Directed by Sean Ellis (Anthropoid, The Broken, The Cursed), The Cut features Bloom alongside Caitríona Balfe, John Turturro, Clare Dunne, and Gary Beadle. Reflecting on the grueling preparation, Bloom stressed that such a drastic approach to weight loss is “definitely not something to try at home.” He went on to explain how he lost so much weight in such a short span of time, and the impact it had on both his body and mind.

A Grueling Transformation

“I was monitored weekly, with blood tests overseen by nutritionist Phillip Goglia, who guided me through losing around 30 pounds in roughly three months. What shocked me most was the mental toll this kind of strict discipline exacts. The paranoia and anxiety were overwhelming, made worse by the lack of sleep — you just can’t sleep when you’re hungry!” Bloom confessed. He added that the water restriction required for the final scenes “triggered obsessive thoughts about food, to the point where I was dreaming about what I could finally eat once I got off a diet of tuna and cucumber.”

On the plot, Bloom stayed relatively guarded, though he shared: “This is a story about the struggles we all face, and the journey it takes to confront our inner demons and embrace self-acceptance.” The Cut premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival but only secured a U.S. theatrical run after Republic Pictures acquired distribution rights. The movie has already scored some traction on Rotten Tomatoes, where it currently sits at 77% with critics.

The official synopsis reads: “After a career-ending defeat, a former champion trains for redemption — but as obsession takes hold and reality unravels, he may be spiraling into something far more terrifying.”

It’s hardly the first time an actor has undergone extreme weight loss for a role. Joaquin Phoenix, Jared Leto, and Christian Bale — particularly his transformation in The Machinist — remain prime examples of performances where the physical look became just as defining as the acting itself. Bloom’s The Cut hasn’t hit theaters yet, but based on his comments, it’s clear his commitment pushed him across the line. What makes his case unique is that the film directly tackles a weight-cutting practice considered illegal in professional sports.

Source: MovieWeb