JAMES HETFIELD on playing a lawman in western thriller 'The Thicket': “I'm grateful I got asked to do it”
03-09-2023
During an appearance on a recent episode of “The Metallica Report”, the podcast offering weekly insider updates on all things METALLICA, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield spoke about his acting role in Tubi Films‘ upcoming dark western thriller “The Thicket”. Based on Joe R. Lansdale‘s novel of the same name, “The Thicket” will be released in theaters on Friday, September 6.
Hetfield said: “Peter Dinklage contacted me through management, just saying, ‘Hey, I got a part for you in something we’re putting together. And I just thought of you, and that’s it.’ It’s, like, ‘Okay, cool.’
“I’m not into acting at all,” James explained. “I mean, I act enough on the stage, like projecting. For us on stage, projecting big, it’s almost more like Broadway. When you’re in a movie, you do just a little thing and that’s, ‘Whoa,’ that’s enough. I like big projecting. So for me to be invited to be part of a film where I don’t have to go and audition or something, ’cause that doesn’t interest me, really. I’ve done that before, and it’s not my bag, really. But he invited me along. There was a couple of other things that I had done before. (Director) Joe Berlinger asked me to do something similar in the Ted Bundy doc that he put together. It was, like, ‘I got this part. You’d be perfect for it. Come on, let’s do it.’ And that’s kind of similar to what, I guess, Peter Dinklage or the director had in mind. Like, ‘Hey, this is a part. You don’t have to do anything, you don’t have to train, you don’t have to do nothing. Just be you.’ It’s, like, ‘All right, I can do that.'”
Hetfield went on to describe the tedious process of making movies and how it is so drastically different from performing on stage.
“While I’m sitting in a trailer, and it’s probably minus 10 degrees out up in Canadia (sic), we’re outside of Calgary and I’m sitting there in period clothing, 1800s turn of the century,” he said. “I mean, the wool’s great, but the shoes (are) not so great. I’m sitting there with (my assistant) Ray. It’s, like, ‘Hey, you’re shooting today.’ And then the end of the day, it’s, like, ‘Ah, we didn’t get to you today.’ And I told Ray, I said, ‘Hey, next time I’m asked to do something like this, remind me to say no.’ (Laughs) But that’s how it was in the moment. When it’s all done, the work you put into it, it’s, like, ‘Ah, yeah, that was nothing.’ But just when you’re sitting in it and waiting. Music is not about waiting. ‘I got an idea. Hey take this down. Let’s do this.’ Practicing your line and waiting to say it five days later is, like, oh, driving me nuts.”
James continued: “When I’m doing interviews or, like, ‘Hey, say hi to this,’ ‘Congratulations on blah, blah, blah.’ I just want it to be natural, one take, go. Let’s do it. I don’t know. Call it the Lou Reed method. ‘Well, why should we do it again? We already did it.’ That’s what I like. And the movies is not that — not so much. But it was fun being out there, being, obviously, in a Western, getting to wear a hat, carry a gun, have a badge on. And I don’t wanna give it all away, but period-correct clothing and riding horses and all that shit. It’s in my DNA. I love it. It’s just the other part, making a movie. But I’m grateful to be in it. I’m grateful I got asked to do it. I hope it comes out cool. That’s another one of those things. I’m just another dude there playing a part for the greater good. When we’re out here (on tour playing music), it’s, like, ‘Hey, this is all under our control,’ and out there it’s not. So, just trusting the process and having as much fun as I can with it.”
Hetfield added: “It’s certainly not a career choice for me. I love what I do and I wanna continue to do that till my last breath. But just something fun. I love that someone just asks you. They see you, they picture you in a part and then you go and you do it. I think that was very cool of Peter.”
Peter Dinklage plays Shorty, a bounty hunter enlisted to find a woman who has been kidnapped by a violent killer. The movie, which is set at the turn of the 20th century, follows Shorty and his fellow trackers as they travel into a violent and chaotic place known as the Big Thicket.
“The Thicket” also stars Juliette Lewis (“Yellowjackets”), Esmé Creed-Miles (“Hanna”), Levon Hawke (“The Crowded Room”), Leslie Grace (“In The Heights”), Gbenga Akinnagbe (“The Old Man”), Macon Blair (“I Care A Lot”), Ned Dennehy (“Peaky Blinders”), Andrew Schulz (“Infamous”) and Arliss Howard (“Mank”).
Production on the film took place last year with “Blitz” director Elliott Lester behind the camera and Christopher Kelly penning the script.
Lester told Collider about adding Hetfield to the film: “The casting of James Hetfield in ‘The Thicket’ is a story that feels almost destined. It all began with a dream — one morning I woke up with a clear vision that James had to be in the movie. James Hetfield, a Rock God, embodies a raw poetry that fit perfectly with the character we envisioned. From that moment, Peter Dinklage and I were relentless in our pursuit. We tried every possible avenue: his manager, mutual friends, anyone who could help us reach him. Our breakthrough came when writer/director Sacha Gervasi (‘Anvil! The Story Of Anvil’), who had a connection to James, stepped in. Despite our efforts, we were unsure if James would even consider the role. We sent him the script, along with a Hail Mary, and waited. To our delight, within days we heard that James was interested. The meeting that followed confirmed our hopes. James could not have been more humble. He revealed that he had always wanted to do a dark western, aligning perfectly with our film’s vision. From that point on, James was incredible. He was hard-working, diligent, and fully embraced his role with a passion that brought a unique intensity to the film. The journey with James has been extraordinary, and his presence truly elevates ‘The Thicket’ to a new level.”
Back in 2019, Hetfield had a part in the Netflix thriller “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile”. That film followed the relationship between notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, played by Zac Efron, and his longtime girlfriend, played by Lily Collins, who at the time had no knowledge of the crimes. Hetfield played officer Bob Hayward, a no-nonsense Utah highway patrol veteran who was the first law enforcement officer to arrest Bundy in 1975 after pulling the killer over and discovering burglary tools in his car but wisely suspecting much worse. While Hetfield had played himself in other films and television productions, this was his first dramatic role taking on a different character.
Five years ago, Efron praised the METALLICA guitarist/vocalist’s acting chops during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, saying: “James Hetfield, to his credit, and absolutely nailed the part, he just crushed it. It’s like he’s been acting his own life. He had no fear. He did a great job. I was ready to maybe give James Hetfield (an acting) tip, but he didn’t ask for a single one. James Hetfield is the shit!”
Speaking on the concept of most recent METALLICA album ’72 Seasons’ title, Hetfield says: “72 seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves. The concept that we were told ‘who we are’ by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are. I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry.”
The complete track listing for “72 Seasons” is:
- 72 Seasons
- Shadows Follow
- Screaming Suicide
- Sleepwalk My Life Away
- You Must Burn!
- Lux Æterna
- Crown Of Barbed Wire
- Chasing Light
- If Darkness Had A Son
- Too Far Gone?
- Room Of Mirrors
- Inamorata
Says METALLICA: “The album package was once again conceived and art directed by our good friend, acclaimed designer David Turner and his team. David, who won a Grammy for his work on ‘Death Magnetic’, is the man behind the look and feel of all of our recent releases, including ‘Through The Never’, ‘S&M2’, and ‘Hardwired’.”
METALLICA announced every show booked through 2023 and 2024: Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only) and promoted by Live Nation, METALLICA‘s “M72” world tour will see the band playing two nights in every city it visits — with each “No Repeat Weekend” featuring two completely different setlists and support lineups. The “M72” tour will feature a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the “I Disappear” full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age. Two-day tickets will be on sale Friday, December 2 at Ticketmaster.com and will include the option of pre-ordering METALLICA‘s new album, “72 Seasons”, on vinyl and/or CD. Single-day tickets will be available beginning January 20. For further information including fan club presales, enhanced experiences and more, go to metallica.com/m72-info.
A portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Founded in 2017, AWMH‘s efforts to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band have raised nearly $13 million — providing $5.9 million in grants to career and technical education programs in the US, over $2.5 million to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.2 million to disaster relief efforts worldwide.
Citi is the official card of the “M72” tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning Wednesday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m. local time until Thursday, December 1 at 10:00 p.m. local time through the Citi Entertainment program.
“72 Seasons” will be released on April 14, 2023 via the band’s own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with METALLICA‘s James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and clocking in at over 77 minutes, the 12-track “72 Seasons” is METALLICA‘s first full length collection of new material since 2016’s “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct”. The album will be released in formats including 2LP 140g black vinyl and limited-edition variants, CD and digital.
Says METALLICA: “We told you about our new album ’72 Seasons’. So what’s next now that we’ve escaped the studio? Hit the road, of course! You want a tour, we’ve got a tour… how about two full years’ worth of shows?!?!
“Over the past few years, we have been so inspired by the dedication and family/community vibe of the fans who traveled to San Francisco for our recent weekend celebrations, first in 2019 with the two ‘S&M2’ shows, followed by last year’s 40th Anniversary shows. On top of that, we had a blast being a part of the 2021 Wimmer Festivals when we played two nights in one city, each with a totally different setlist. With all of that in mind, the ‘M72’ tour was born!
“Starting in April of 2023, we’ll be visiting 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city, with each ‘No Repeat Weekend’ show a completely unique experience: Two totally different set lists with two different bands opening the show each night! Purchase a two-day ticket, and you won’t see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning our 40+ years of being lucky enough to make music. Most of the shows (sorry, not all – we tried!) will be on Fridays and Sundays, so we’ll be sure to have lots of extracurricular events for you to hang with fellow METALLICA fans at before the shows kick-off and on the Saturday night in between.
“Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only),and brought to you by our friends at Live Nation, the ‘M72’ tour also launches a completely different look for us in stadiums — we’ll be in the round in the middle of the field. On top of that, the Snake Pit has been relocated to the center of the stage so that fans there will have a complete 360 view of the show. Each weekend offers a variety of Enhanced Experiences, ranging from access to a meet and greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the ‘Black Box’ lounge to early entry into the venue and the aforementioned Snake Pit. The very popular ‘Black Laminate’ is back, now known as the ‘I Disappear Ticket,’ and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with us for multiple weekends. Grab one of these and attend every show on your continent or in the world! For more information about Enhanced Experiences and I Disappear Tickets, visit wearesuper.co/metallica.
“In keeping with the theme of two completely unique shows each weekend, we’re excited to share the stage with different bands each night, including some we have traveled with before and new friends who are joining us for the first time. Signing up for the entire adventure with us are FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS and MAMMOTH WVH, and some of you will see PANTERA, ARCHITECTS, GRETA VAN FLEET or VOLBEAT, depending on the shows you attend. All the details are in the listing of dates below and on the individual show pages.
“Two-day discounted tickets will be on sale Friday, December 2, for all shows. Fan Club presales start early on Wednesday, November 30, with various other presales beginning later that day and throughout the week. To request your Fan Club presale code, visit metallica.com/presale-code. If you cannot join us for the entire weekend, single-day tickets will be available starting January 20, 2023.
“A portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Founded in 2017, AWMH‘s efforts to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band have raised nearly $13 million – providing $5.9 million in grants to career and technical education programs in the US, over $2.5 million to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.2 million to disaster relief efforts worldwide.
“We cannot wait to embark on this new adventure, play some new music, and spend our weekends in ’23 and ’24 with YOU!”
“M72” world tour 2023-2024
Thursday, April 27 2023 – Amsterdam NL – Johan Cruijff Arena
Saturday, April 29 2023 – Amsterdam NL – Johan Cruijff Arena
Wednesday, May 17 2023 – Paris FR – Stade de France*
Friday, May 19 2023 – Paris FR – Stade de France
Friday, May 26 2023 – Hamburg DE – Volksparkstadion
Sunday, May 28 2023 – Hamburg DE – Volksparkstadion
Friday, June 16 2023 – Gothenburg SE – Ullevi Stadium**
Sunday, June 18 2023 – Gothenburg SE – Ullevi Stadium
Friday, August 4 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
Sunday, August 6 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
Friday, August 11 2023 – Montreal, QC – Stade Olympique
Sunday, August 13 2023 – Montreal, QC – Stade Olympique
Friday, August 18 2023 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium
Sunday, August 20 2023 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium
Friday, August 25 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium
Sunday, August 27 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium
Friday, September 1 2023 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium
Sunday, September 3, 2023 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium
Friday, November 3, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center
Sunday, November 5, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center
Friday, November 10, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
Sunday, November 12, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
Friday, May 24 2024 – Munich DE – Olympiastadion
Sunday, May 26 2024 – Munich DE – Olympiastadion
Friday, June 7 2024 – Helsinki FI – Olympic Stadium
Sunday, June 9 2024 – Helsinki FI – Olympic Stadium
Friday, June 14 2024 – Copenhagen DK – Parken Stadium
Sunday, June 16 2024 – Copenhagen DK – Parken Stadium
Friday, July 5 2024 – Warsaw PL – PGE Narodowy
Sunday, July 7 2024 – Warsaw PL – PGE Narodowy
Friday, July 12 2024 – Madrid ES – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano
Sunday, July 14 2024 – Madrid ES – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano
Friday, August 2 2024 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
Sunday, August 4 2024 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
Friday, August 9 2024 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
Sunday, August 11 2024 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
Friday, August 16 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
Sunday, August 18 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
Friday, August 23 2024 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
Sunday, August 25 2024 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
Friday, August 30 2024 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
Sunday, September 1 2024 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
Friday, September 20 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol***
Sunday, September 22 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol
Friday, September 27 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol***
Sunday, September 29 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol
Show 1 Support Europe: ARCHITECTS and MAMMOTH WVH**
Show 2 Support Europe: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and ICE NINE KILLS
* FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH/ICE NINE KILLS play show 1 in Paris, ARCHITECTS and MAMMOTH WVH play show 2 in Paris
** VOLBEAT replaces ARCHITECTS on show 1 in Gothenburg
Show 1 Support North America: PANTERA and MAMMOTH WVH***
Show 2 Support North America: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and ICE NINE KILLS
***GRETA VAN FLEET replaces PANTERA on show 1 both weekends in Mexico City
Social media