Sam C. Wilson talks about playing villain Trap Jaw, stunt training and his favourite Devon beach spots.

Starring in one of the summer’s biggest blockbusters (filmed partly in Devon), actor Sam C. Wilson plays one of Skeletor’s most feared troublemakers, Trap Jaw.  A starring role which demanded some serious training, plus a vast amount of prosthetics, make-up and costume to bring one of the franchise’s most popular characters to life on the big screen.

You’re now part of a really iconic universe – did you grow up with He-Man, or was this whole world new to you when you got the call?

I did grow up with He-Man but as a kind of legacy cartoon. My cousin (older than me) was a big fan and I inherited a Prince Adam figure, who I made fight with my WWE  wrestling figure Kane, and Action Man. I’m afraid to say he came off worse for wear as those action men were huge!

For those new to the Masters of the Universe franchise, tell us about the character Trap Jaw, how would you describe him?

He is Kronis. Skeletor ripped his jaw and arm off.  He is such a head honcho general that he dared to challenge Skeletor’s rein but is now the commander of his armies. He is a gladiator come orc come bionic military man. Everything he does hurts. His body is in agony all the time and he blames everyone else. He LOVES being the villain he is. He likes hand to hand combat and he eats huge chunks of meat, with the grill too!

The film is visually stunning – what was it like walking onto those sets for the first time, seeing some of the other characters brought to life. Was there a moment where you just had to stop and take it all in?

The first scene I filmed was the part when all of us baddies confront the King at the beginning of the film. We were ALL there and it was a night shoot. Full prosthetics, every one of us. Freezing cold with nothing but some body paint shielding me from the elements and full eye contact lenses. Not for the faint hearted.

Me and Hafthor (Icelandic actor and professional strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson stars in the film) were scared of each other. They’ve used an actual little look we gave each other in the movie. That was real.

“We wanted the audience to feel him (Trap Jaw) and have him be properly real.”

Trap Jaw is well-known from the TV cartoon and toy-line, he’s a classic character – how do you go about combining honouring some that legacy while also bringing your own ideas to the role?

It’s tough. Frankly, some people would have loved a ripped to shreds, steroided bodysuit, or even hulk-like CGI. I’ve seen the trolls!  We (Director Travis Knight and I, as well as costume and prosthetics) all decided that he needed to feel more akin to the boss orc from The Fellowship of the Ring.  He needed to feel like he was ACTUALLY there, in the flesh.

Me and Idris (Elba) were actually going hand to hand and we wanted the audience to feel him and have him be properly real.

We talked a lot about his voice. I did some genuine animal studies (what is drama school for!) to make him walk like an older chimp. I worked with Polly, our movement coach, to figure out how his bionics would move. I had his voice ache and made it throaty. Travis let me have real free rein, it was great.

Then we agreed he’d have a weights belt, and look like a strong man and a gladiator, not a bloody underwear model!

There is plenty of action in the film, for your character in particular – how was the training regime for the role?

Work out every day. Just heavy weights, and mostly on top so I could get the torso big enough to match the enormous, REAL ROBOTIC TROUSER LEGS I was wearing, without shrinking my body in the ‘get up’.

The gym was all the way in Elstree, Hertfordshire and I live in Brighton, so I’d go up three times a week and combine weights with my stunt training, which was by far the most rigorous part. I rehearsed all those fights to death so that I looked the business when it came to fighting ‘Stringer Bell’ and He-Man himself.

Trap Jaw is loaded with an arsenal of cool tools. Gearing up, was it a combination of physical props, prosthetics and VFX?

Everything, bar the middle of my arm and the bits where it transforms, was real prosthetics, make-up and costume. I sat in the chair for 6 hours at first, eventually down to 4.5 towards the end, got dressed for half an hour, contact lenses in, then at the end of the day it took at least 1.5 hours to ‘derig’.

The film is a really fun and entertaining watch. Overall, was it a fun project and role to get stuck into?

It was amazing. We have literally all ended up mates. It was hard as hell and gruelling but it meant everyone was super supportive to one another. No egos.

Parts of Masters of the Universe were filmed right here in Devon at Beer Quarry Caves. Though Trap Jaw wasn’t among the scenes shot here, are you familiar with the Devon area?

We went to Saunton Sands beach every summer as a kid. And actually as a family, last summer we took MY kid for her first ever holiday. It’s an incredibly beautiful and special place to me. I’d LOVE to film there. CALL MY AGENT!

Have you filmed in Devon before?

I’ve never filmed in Devon but I would absolutely love to. I’d love to be in a Scandi Noir drama, a tortured Devon detective. Let’s make it happen. Seriously, I’m so down to spending some time in Devon this summer.

Being one of the big summer film releases, Masters of the Universe is currently everywhere – what other projects do you have coming up?

I’m in Bladerunner 2099, I’m not sure when it airs but I’m desperate for everyone to see that, it’s so cool. I’ll be in California Avenue with Erin Doherty, Helena Bonham Carter and Bill Nighy – good company! And I’ve got some cool meetings that I really hope go well! Cross your fingers for me!

Sam C. Wilson stars in Masters of the Universe, out now in cinemas – and you can read more about the locations and filming in Devon here.

Featured photo credit: Chris Mann

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