Alexander Skarsgård looks totally ripped in "The Northman," but how, exactly, did he
make himself look "like some kind of monster," to quote a co-star?
Keep watching to find out.
"The Northman" stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a former prince who returns home
after many years to exact revenge for the murder of his father, the King, played by
Ethan Hawke, and the kidnapping of his mother, the Queen, played by Nicole Kidman.
Amleth, who was raised by a band of Vikings after narrowly escaping a similar fate, embarks
on a brutal journey to confront his murderous uncle.
The Robert Eggers Viking epic, which will land in theaters on April 22, has received
strong praise from critics, many of whom have noted the ferocity of Skarsgård's acting.
Indeed, the film's leading man is a sight to behold, navigating an ancient world of
mysticism and violence with seemingly unlimited stamina.
Skarsgård has mentioned how grueling an ordeal it was to shoot "The Northman," but it's clear
that all the hard work paid off.
As Amleth, the actor is a ferocious wall of muscle, making every bit of struggle and bloody
combat feel believable.
His co-star Ralph Ineson, told NME that the transformation was stunning and compared him
to a bodybuilder.
"He's made himself look like some kind of monster for the part, the dedication's incredible.
I think it will be a bit of a masterpiece, to be honest."
So, how did Skarsgård go from lean to mean and shredded?
His personal trainer for "The Northman" explained the process, and it sounds like a lot.
Thanks to a report by Collider, we've got an in-depth look at how trainer Magnus Lygdbäck
got Alexander Skarsgård in shape for "The Northman."
It sounds as though Lygdbäck followed a classic regimen with some of his own wisdom and preferences
mixed in.
First was the bulking period, during which Skarsgård ate lots of food to build as much
muscle mass as possible.
After that came cutting, which saw Skarsgård training to keep the newly gained muscle while
shredding excess fat.
This is one area where it sounds like Lygdbäck made some changes to accommodate Skarsgård's
specific needs for "The Northman."
As the trainer explained,
"Normally, I do eight to ten weeks, but we didn't want Alex to be too shredded.
He's shredded enough, right?
And we wanted him to look a little thicker."
And finally, Lygdbäck worked with the actor to keep his body in peak-physical performance
throughout the movie to avoid the possibility of injuries while filming the action-heavy
sequences.
While movie star training programs are often associated with mounds of unseasoned chicken
or other such bulking foods, Lygdbäck says training for "The Northman" allowed Skarsgård
to eat more or less what he wanted.
As he put it,
"We allowed Alex to have a glass of wine on Saturdays and eat food that he likes to eat."
However, that doesn't mean the food was unimportant.
Lygdbäck instructed Skarsgård to eat five meals per day, and he also personally designed
Skarsgård's menus, making sure the actor finished his plate.
Lygdbäck joked,
"If that means you need to stand over and tell him to finish, that's what's gonna happen."
Alexander Skarsgård's hardcore transformation for "The Northman" wasn't the first time he's
trained with Magnus Lygdbäck.
The celebrity trainer also helped the actor prepare for his leading role in the 2016 film
"The Legend of Tarzan."
To play Tarzan, Skarsgård underwent movement practice and a four-month training regimen
in which he gained 25 pounds.
"I thought that it would be a dream, but it was tough, because I had to get up at three
in the morning and eat a cold steak and potatoes and stuff."
Lygdbäck, who is known for creating jaw-dropping results with his clients, admitted that he
was shocked by Skarsgård's dedication.
He told Men's Journal,
"I've never seen anyone more hardworking.
I had to force him to take days off sometimes.
He was eating food out of a box for about eight months, and not a drop of alcohol."
Like the regimen for "The Northman," this fitness journey involved a strict diet and
a focus on weight-lifting.
Given their success together, it's no surprise that they teamed up again for the Viking film.
Lygdbäck told GQ that he enjoys working with Skarsgård, who responds well to their training
and shows a fierce dedication to the work.
He told the magazine,
"You know, working with Alex is just — you know what you're getting.
You get someone who's talented, hard working, and has the genetics."
Lygdbäck went on to say that, despite the stunning results, Skarsgård isn't naturally
a gym rat, but his client's love of running was beneficial to their training.
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