The Thicket Director Explains How Metallica's James Hetfield Joined the Cast

As a long-time fan of both Westerns and Metallica, I must say that seeing James Hetfield star in “The Thicket” feels like a dream come true. It’s not every day you get to see a rock legend from the world of heavy metal take on the role of a bounty hunter in a gritty Western film.

As a gamer, I’ve always had a soft spot for music legends, so you can imagine my surprise when I found out that Metallica’s James Hetfield is starring in the new Western movie on Tubi called “The Thicket.” But here’s something even more shocking – during production, director Elliott Lester belted out “Enter Sandman” to him! However, this wasn’t what drew him to the role. Turns out, the negotiations were a breeze because Hetfield was already drawn to the idea of acting in a Western. And as for how they came up with this brilliant idea? Well, it seemed like a bit of divine intervention. In “The Thicket,” a bounty hunter and an unconventional group of heroes track down a ruthless killer, but instead, they find themselves ensnared in “The Thicket.”

And that frigid no-man’s-land sprang, at least in part, from a dream by Lester. From there, they had to call in some favors to get Hetfield on the line.

Lester shared, “I had a vision, I awoke, and I reached out to Peter Dinklage. I told him about my idea, saying ‘We need to bring it to life.’ He asked, ‘What’s your idea?’ To which I replied, ‘We should get James Hetfield for this movie.’ He seemed intrigued, replying, ‘I like that thought.’ I then wondered aloud, ‘But how can we find him?’ I attempted to contact him through management but was unsuccessful. However, we knew someone who had made a film called Anvil, a documentary about heavy metal bands. We managed to get in touch with James within a week, and we held a Zoom call with James Hetfield. It was incredible, he showed genuine interest, expressing, ‘I’ve always wanted to do a dark western.’ I was amazed. His voice is instantly recognizable. And then yes, he agreed, joined the project, and turned out to be great to work with. He threw himself into the role, contributing significantly to the film.”

In our interview, which you can find at the beginning of this page, Lester is attempting to mimic James Hetfield, the lead vocalist and co-founder of Metallica, whose voice stands out distinctively.

As a captivated viewer, I’m eagerly anticipating the movie “The Thicket,” where I, as Reginald Jones, a formidable bounty hunter, am summoned by a frantic soul to apprehend a notorious outlaw named Cutthroat Bill. In this adventure, I gather an unconventional troupe consisting of a former slave with grave-digging skills and a cunning woman-for-hire. Our dangerous journey takes us into the treacherous expanse known as The Thicket, a place where survival is a testament to courage and resilience.

The Thicket will land in theaters on September 6th before traveling to Tubi for streaming.

2024-08-29 22:40

The Thicket Director Explains How Metallica’s James Hetfield Joined the Cast

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