Actor Skips Lunches to Transform for Wrestling Biopic ‘Unstoppable’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Actor Jerome, 27, revealed the extreme measures he took to portray real-life wrestling champion Anthony Robles in the new biopic Unstoppable, now streaming on Prime Video. The film chronicles Robles’ journey from high school wrestler to NCAA champion, despite being born without a right leg.

“I am the most in shape I’ve ever been in my life,” Jerome told PEOPLE. “So it’s great,” he added with a wry smile, recalling the grueling training regimen that included skipping lunch breaks to work out on set.

To accurately depict Robles’ athleticism, Jerome underwent months of intensive training, including wrestling, weightlifting, and weighted runs—often on crutches. “Nine to 5, five days a week,” he said of the bootcamp-style preparation. “At the last day of our bootcamp, we went right into day one of shooting, which was pretty crazy.”

Jerome, who previously starred in When They See Us, admitted his prior knowledge of wrestling was limited to WWE. To prepare, he worked closely with Robles, who served as a stunt double and consultant on the film. The two meticulously recreated Robles’ matches, choreographing moves in exacting detail.

One of the biggest challenges was mastering the use of crutches. “I practiced how to move around on the crutches so I can not look like I had just sprained my ankle two weeks ago,” Jerome explained. He also wore a green sock to digitally erase one leg in post-production.

The actor’s dedication extended beyond physical training. He packed meals and ate between takes, using microwaves scattered across the set. “Everybody went to lunch, and I went into whatever facility they had nearby,” he said.

Jerome’s efforts paid off, earning him a close bond with Robles. “I consider him a brother,” he said. “It’s really become beyond the work for us.” Robles even invited the cast and crew into his Arizona home during filming, further deepening their connection.

Now, Jerome says he draws inspiration from Robles’ relentless work ethic. “It’s 8 o’clock in the morning and I don’t want to wake up, but I’m up in the gym at 8:30,” he said. “You can’t see somebody do 80 pull-ups with a weighted vest the way Anthony does and not use that as motivation.”

Unstoppable, which also faced delays due to the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, is now available for streaming on Prime Video.