Image: AFP
Jennifer Garner had to achieve a "Marvel fit" physique for her cameo as the sai-wielding assassin Elektra in "Deadpool & Wolverine."
She shared her workout regimen in an Instagram video on Monday.
Garner's comeback as Elektra was among the high-profile superhero cameos in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
She shared that Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy initially proposed the role to her while they were collaborating on the 2022 film “The Adam Project.”
“I remember the moment @slevydirect and @vancityreynolds had the idea for Elektra Natchios to show up in @deadpoolmovie 3— we were on the set of ‘The Adam Project’ and they gave each other this look they have that can communicate an idea, 20 pages of dialogue, nuclear codes — there is a crazy artistic kismet between those two,” Garner shared on Instagram.
Garner shared her Elektra workout routine on Instagram, which featured extensive sai weapon training, aerobics, swimming, boxing, weight lifting, running, jump rope, rowing, and other exercises.
“Other than trying to convince my kids’ preschool buddies that I was secretly a ninja, I hadn’t picked up Elektra’s sais since 2004; I was fit, but not @marvel fit,” she shared.
“As this impossible dream became reality, my bestie and OG stunt double @shaunaduggins and I amped up our training, led by @bethjnicely at @thelimitfit: 1x/day, plus whatever homework she assigned for a second workout. Boxing 3x/ week with @flvcothefuture from @matchroomxchurchillgym. And lots and lots of @onepeloton’s @becsgentry. 💃🏻🏋🏻♀️🥊🏃🏻♀️🏊🏻♀️ We had #SuperHeroSummer over here, twirling sais in the backyard and laughing at our sore old bodies.”
Garner originally played Elektra in Ben Affleck’s 2003 “Daredevil” movie from 20th Century Fox and she headlined her own “Elektra” spinoff in 2005.
Neither movies were received particularly well, but she got to resurrect the character — along with fellow Fox heroes like Wesley Snipes’ Blade, Channing Tatum’s Gambit and Dafne Keen’s X-23 — and give her a proper MCU goodbye with “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
“I didn’t know that Elektra and I needed an ending, but Shawn and Ryan did,” she wrote.
“They are gifted in many ways, but seeing and elevating people around them is at the top of the list. Shauna and I were in heaven on set with them, with my old pal @thehughjackman, @dafnekeen, @channingtatum, @realwesleysnipes. Shooting the fight was so fun, being there all together—truly like a dream. I’m proud of my friends and grateful to be up there with them. Thank you doesn’t cut it, guys, but it’s a good placeholder until I figure out what does.”