JAMES HETFIELD On Portraying A Lawman In Western Thriller ‘The Thicket’: ‘I’m Grateful I Got Asked To Do It’

In a recent episode of “The Metallica Report,” the podcast that provides weekly insider updates on everything METALLICA, frontman James Hetfield discussed his acting role in Tubi Films‘ upcoming dark western thriller, The Thicket.

James said: “Peter Dinklage contacted me through management, just saying, ‘Hey, I got a part for you in something we’re putting together. And I just thought of you, and that’s it.’ It’s, like, ‘Okay, cool.’

“I’m not into acting at all. I mean, I act enough on the stage, like projecting. For us on stage, projecting big, it’s almost more like Broadway. When you’re in a movie, you do just a little thing and that’s, ‘Whoa,’ that’s enough. I like big projecting. So for me to be invited to be part of a film where I don’t have to go and audition or something, ’cause that doesn’t interest me, really. I’ve done that before, and it’s not my bag, really. But he invited me along.

“There was a couple of other things that I had done before. [Director] Joe Berlinger asked me to do something similar in the Ted Bundy doc that he put together. It was, like, ‘I got this part. You’d be perfect for it. Come on, let’s do it.’ And that’s kind of similar to what, I guess, Peter Dinklage or the director had in mind. Like, ‘Hey, this is a part. You don’t have to do anything, you don’t have to train, you don’t have to do nothing. Just be you.’ It’s, like, ‘All right, I can do that.’”

Hetfield went on to explain the tedious nature of filmmaking and how it differs significantly from performing on stage.

“While I’m sitting in a trailer, and it’s probably minus 10 degrees out up in Canadia [sic], we’re outside of Calgary and I’m sitting there in period clothing, 1800s turn of the century. I mean, the wool’s great, but the shoes [are] not so great. I’m sitting there with [my assistant] Ray. It’s, like, ‘Hey, you’re shooting today.’ And then the end of the day, it’s, like, ‘Ah, we didn’t get to you today.’ And I told Ray, I said, ‘Hey, next time I’m asked to do something like this, remind me to say no.’ [Laughs] But that’s how it was in the moment. When it’s all done, the work you put into it, it’s, like, ‘Ah, yeah, that was nothing.’ But just when you’re sitting in it and waiting. Music is not about waiting. ‘I got an idea. Hey take this down. Let’s do this.’ Practicing your line and waiting to say it five days later is, like, oh, driving me nuts.”

 “When I’m doing interviews or, like, ‘Hey, say hi to this,’ ‘Congratulations on blah, blah, blah.’ I just want it to be natural, one take, go. Let’s do it. I don’t know. Call it the Lou Reed method. ‘Well, why should we do it again? We already did it.’ That’s what I like. And the movies is not that — not so much. But it was fun being out there, being, obviously, in a Western, getting to wear a hat, carry a gun, have a badge on. And I don’t wanna give it all away, but period-correct clothing and riding horses and all that s**t. It’s in my DNA. I love it. It’s just the other part, making a movie. But I’m grateful to be in it. I’m grateful I got asked to do it. I hope it comes out cool. That’s another one of those things. I’m just another dude there playing a part for the greater good. When we’re out here [on tour playing music], it’s, like, ‘Hey, this is all under our control,’ and out there it’s not. So, just trusting the process and having as much fun as I can with it.”

“It’s certainly not a career choice for me,” he added. “I love what I do and I wanna continue to do that till my last breath. But just something fun. I love that someone just asks you. They see you, they picture you in a part and then you go and you do it. I think that was very cool of Peter.”

Based on the Joe R. Lansdale novel, The Thicket hits theaters nationwide on September 6th, 2024. The story follows Shorty, a relentless bounty hunter played by Dinklage, tasked with tracking down a vicious kidnapper. Set in the Wild West around the turn of the 20th century, the film follows Shorty and his companions as they venture into the treacherous and lawless territory known as the Big Thicket.

The impressive cast alongside Dinklage includes Juliette Lewis (known for her role in Yellowjackets), Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna), Levon Hawke (The Crowded Room), and rising stars Leslie Grace (In The Heights), Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Old Man), and Macon Blair (I Care A Lot). Veteran actors Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders), Andrew Schulz (Infamous), and Arliss Howard (Mank) round out the ensemble.

Directed by Elliott Lester (Blitz), with a screenplay by Christopher Kelly, The Thicket promises a thrilling cinematic experience. Filming wrapped up last year, and anticipation is building for its theatrical release.

Lester discussed adding Hetfield to the film in an interview with Collider: “The casting of James Hetfield in <strong>‘The Thicket’ is a story that feels almost destined. It all began with a dream — one morning I woke up with a clear vision that James had to be in the movie. James Hetfield, a Rock God, embodies a raw poetry that fit perfectly with the character we envisioned. From that moment, Peter Dinklage and I were relentless in our pursuit. We tried every possible avenue: his manager, mutual friends, anyone who could help us reach him. Our breakthrough came when writer/director Sacha Gervasi [Anvil! The Story Of Anvil], who had a connection to James, stepped in.

“Despite our efforts, we were unsure if James would even consider the role. We sent him the script, along with a Hail Mary, and waited. To our delight, within days we heard that James was interested. The meeting that followed confirmed our hopes. James could not have been more humble. He revealed that he had always wanted to do a dark western, aligning perfectly with our film’s vision. From that point on, James was incredible. He was hard-working, diligent, and fully embraced his role with a passion that brought a unique intensity to the film. The journey with James has been extraordinary, and his presence truly elevates The Thicket to a new level.”