DAILY DIRT: Get ready for a world-record car roll in upcoming movie

Daily Dirt for Wednesday, March 20, 2024

The most startling of today’s birthday wishes deals with Diana Ross. I cannot believe the lady will be 80 years old later this week … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 897 of The Daily Dirt.

1. There’s a movie hitting the theaters May 3 titled “The Fall Guy.”

Sounds like it could be worth a watch based on the following item alone. Not only is the movie reportedly packed with death-defying stunts, but it has already shattered a world record. The action-comedy has officially set a Guinness World Record mark for the most cannon rolls in a car, performed by stunt driver Logan Holladay. While filming in Sydney, Australia, Holladay rolled a car a whopping 8 1/2 times, breaking the previous record of seven set by Adam Kirley for 2006’s “Casino Royale” James Bond film.

“The Fall Guy” also stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Hannah Waddingham, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Stephanie Hsu and Winston Duke. (If you’ve been a devoted reader of the Daily Dirt, that Aaron Taylor-Johnson name probably sounds familiar. He’s also a leading candidate to become the new James Bond, a subject we have been tracking for the past couple of years.)

Holladay is a longtime stunt performer, working on films like “Shazam!”and “Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw.”

“Growing up, my dad was a stuntman, so the influence of film sets and the world of stunts was always there,” he said in a press release. “When I learned about ‘The Fall Guy’ going into production, I knew I had to be part of it. As for the cannon rolls, after two practice runs and one real take, we had one car and one shot left — and after I hit the 8 1/2 rolls, I had a pretty good feeling that I had broken the record because it felt like the spinning was never going to stop. It was a surreal moment.”

“The Fall Guy” is based on the early 1980’s ABC show about movie stuntmen that starred Lee Majors, Heather Thomas and Markie Post.

2. Attention baseball fans, Opening Day — well, kind of — is here.  

This morning (in America anyway), saw the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres play the first of their two games in Korea. It’s being billed as the Seoul Series.

The games will be broadcast by ESPN, so either don’t go to bed Wednesday night or set your alarm to be up for the 5 a.m. Thursday telecast.

The MLB season begins in earnest Thursday, March 28, when all 30 teams will be in action.

3. The weekly Daily Dirt birthday wishes go to:

• Actor Timothy Dalton, who will be 80 on Thursday. Dalton will go down in history as the most boring James Bond in 007 history.
• Sportscaster Bob Costas turns 72 on Friday. One of the all-time best at his craft.
• Former NFL quarterback and current TV personality Peyton Manning will be 48 on Sunday. Best comedian in NFL history?
• Singer Elton John blows out 77 candles Monday. Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road!
• Singer Diana Ross will be 80 on Tuesday. Wow … where did all the years ago? Just seems like yesterday she and the Supremes were belting out “Baby Love” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Play ball!

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. More Hannah Waddingham, please.