Scott Adkins is back on EoM Presents, this time to discuss his latest action film offering, Reckless. EoM Senior Interviewer Thomas Manning talks with Adkins about the development of his “complete fool” of a character, as well as his history with stunt coordinators Jude Poyer and Gordon Alexander. Directed by Elliott Montello and also starring Vinnie Jones and Nicole Deon, Reckless is now available on VOD.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Thomas Manning: I’ve got to start off by saying it must have been difficult for you to play a character who supposedly doesn’t know anything about martial arts to begin with. I think even at the beginning of the movie he’s reading “A Dimwit’s Guide to Martial Arts.”
Scott Adkins: That’s how I learned! That’s the book that I read when I was 12. And look at me now [laughs].
Manning: Exactly! That’s how you got to where you are. Was that character trait there from the very beginning? Was that from the script?
Adkins: No, that’s put into the script when I’m playing it, because the director was a bit unsure about me doing martial arts in this, and I’m like “I’ve got to do martial arts, mate. Come on. That’s just what I’ve got to do.” And so he came up with the idea that I’d read that book in prison to avoid getting attacked. And so I’m like, “Okay, there you go!”
Scott Adkins as Devon in RECKLESS. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Manning: Elliott [Montello], who directed this movie – it was his first feature film [as director]. He has an extensive background in second unit directing, cinematography, and music videos – and I really loved his style here and I thought you were a great match for it. Can you talk to me about that experience of working with Elliott? What are some unique traits that you noticed about him as a director?
Adkins: I was really impressed with Elliott, honestly. He showed me this short film he did, and it was great. He knows exactly what he wants. He understands how to shoot the action as well, which to me always tells someone’s a technical filmmaker if you understand how to shoot action. Because if you can shoot action, you can actually shoot anything. What then you need to know is how to talk to actors, which is another side of it. Then the other side is how to tell a compelling story. But if you can shoot action, you are technically proficient as a filmmaker – and he absolutely had that. It was a blast to work with him. Great sense of humor and we got on great. The only problem is that we needed more time to shoot this movie, and he did incredible with the amount of time that he was given. Should have been given more, but I’d love to work with him again.
Manning: And I really loved the dynamic between you and Nicole Deon, playing the character of Kimber. You’re both really frantic for most of the movie because your characters are in way over their heads. I think this was one of her first films, but I thought she was just such a force. What did you appreciate about sharing the screen with Nicole and what she brought to the project?
Adkins: Yeah, Nicole was fantastic. I think she’s done a lot of West End theatre and that sort of thing. And we were looking for someone that understood the tone of the movie – the comedy – and got it on the audition. And she absolutely did. Just had a lot of fun working with each other. She just understood the tone and what we were going for without her really being told.
Scott Adkins as Devon in RECKLESS. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Manning: So were you kind of jealous that she stole some of your kills in this film?
Adkins: Yeah, how many did she steal? Like, I’m too much of a buffoon to finish anyone off, so I needed her to actually accidentally pull the trigger on some of them.
Manning: Stu Small was a writer on [this film] and he’s written a handful of films that you’ve previously worked on. So now having played multiple characters that were written by Stu, what stands out to you about the characters and the stories he creates? And why do you think you collaborate so well?
Adkins: It’s more his dialogue, really. We’re friends from school, and he writes well for me, and I understand how he writes. So I brought him onto this project to do a polish of the script. Well, more than a polish. He rewrote it drastically. The character was not as much of a buffoon before we got our hands on it, and that’s what was interesting to me. I just wanted to play a complete fool. So that’s what we did. But Stu, yeah, he writes great dialogue for me.
Manning: So, with playing a complete fool – in the opening scene, you’re wearing a mask that covers your whole head. There weren’t any eyeholes. Could you see anything at all when you were filming that scene?
Adkins: Yeah, but it was a little bit sketchy, especially when there’s explosions going off. Lost my peripheral vision a little bit. Actually, Adam Deacon, who’s a great actor – he had the mask on and he opened up a door and caught himself in the eye with the corner of the door. I think that was because he was wearing the mask.
L-R: Vinnie Jones as Trent and Dean Gaffney as Wilmott in RECKLESS. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Manning: With the stunt coordinators on this film – you have Jude Poyer, and I know you’ve known each other for a couple decades now. And then assistant stunt coordinator Gordon Alexander. I think he’s also someone you’ve known for a while….
Adkins: How’d you know I know these guys? How’d you know that?
I did Extreme Challenge with [Gordon Alexander], yeah. And Pure Vengeance.
Manning: I did my research, Scott! What influence have those guys had on you throughout your career?
Adkins: Well, when I was a kid, there was an English show called Q.E.D. on BBC 2. I remember there was this British kid who was training up to go to Hong Kong to become a stuntman. And I’m watching it, and it’s Jude, and I’m like, “Oh my god, this kid’s going out to Hong Kong!” So, I remembered him from that. And he did go to Hong Kong and he did become a stuntman. Then I did The Medallion with Jackie Chan in 2002, and [Jude Poyer] was on that and we became friends and we stayed in touch. And I’m just so happy for him, to see what he’s gone on to do with Gangs of London and all the stuff with Gareth Evans. And Gordon was on the very first film I did, Extreme Challenge. And then we did this short film together and so we’ve known each other for ages. And yeah, it’s just cool that we’ve all been in the business for so many years and we’ve made careers out of it. It’s cool to reconnect.
Manning: What would you say was the most memorable fight for you in this film?
Adkins: It’s the fight with Bishop [played by Mark Strange]. The second fight where he’s got the morning star.
L-R: Scott Adkins as Devon and Nicole Deon as Kimber in RECKLESS. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Manning: I was going to ask about that – because when you’re facing off against him, you have no weapons, just your bare hands. I’m curious about designing those fights and still making them feel grounded in reality. And to convincingly say that this guy with his bare hands can hold his own against a guy swinging a morning star around. How do you approach that?
Adkins: I don’t think we were bothered about being realistic [laughs]. We just wanted to have fun and make it an entertaining fight scene with Mark Strange, who’s great.
Manning: So was this also the first time you’ve ever used a teddy bear in a fight?
Adkins: Yes, that would be the first time, I think. It’s also the world’s cinematic first headbutt to the asshole, I believe. So yeah, we’re taking all the trophies.
L-R: Nicole Deon as Kimber and Scott Adkins as Devon in RECKLESS. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Manning: Well, I know we got to wrap it up here in just a minute….
Adkins: On that note, yeah, we better wrap it up!
Manning: But hey, looking forward to The Brawler. Congrats on your upcoming directorial debut. I’m excited to see what you cook up there.
Adkins: Yeah, let’s hope I work again!
Official Synopsis:
A former low level criminal out on parole has to outrun the cops again while trying to get his cut of an old bank heist from his former team.
Available on VOD and digital May 22nd, 2026.
For more information, head to the official Samuel Goldwyn Films Reckless webpage.
Thomas Manning is a member of the NCFCA, SEFCA, and CCA, and also the co-host of the television show and radio program Meet Me at the Movies. He has served as a production assistant and voting member on the Film Selection Committee for the Real to Reel Film Festival. Additionally, he manages his own film review and interview site, The Run-Down on Movies. Manning is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a double-major in Communications and English. His passion for cinema and storytelling is rivaled only by his love for the music of Taylor Swift.
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