It’s not often that you see a 7ft 2in mountain of muscle choke up on camera — but Olivier Richters, better known to fans as The Dutch Giant, did just that while recalling a painful and “traumatic” injury sustained during filming for Reacher season 3.
In a new YouTube collaboration with strongman Eddie Hall, Richters opened up about the brutal toll of filming his role as Paul “Paulie” Van Hoven, a towering ex-soldier and bodyguard who goes toe-to-toe with Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher.
Speaking during their workout together, Richters explained the relentless preparation that went into the series’ now-famous fight sequence.
“For Reacher, for the big fight, everybody loves — which was half an episode — I was doing two hours of stunt training in the morning. I would eat, sleep in the afternoon, eat, and then two hours of stunt training, eat, gym training, eat, sleep,” Richters revealed. “I did that for four months to prepare for that fight.
“And then I broke my leg.”
The actor and bodybuilder revealed that despite the injury, he pushed through to complete filming — a decision that left both physical and emotional scars.
“And [I] had to finish filming with a broken leg. It’s a trauma. I took so many painkillers to finish that fight.
“There is a scene — and people who have seen it will love it — where I come out of the forest. Everybody thinks of that. And I’m walking like this behind him, and it’s so real because it’s real. I’m limping with a broken leg.”
Richters’ voice wavered and his eyes watered as he recalled what came next.
“I got back to Holland. I immediately went from the airport to the hospital,” he said, pausing as emotion overtook him. “Sorry. It’s — it’s seriously trauma.”
He described the grim reality that awaited him after the flight home, continuing: “…I went straight into physical therapy, and the doctor came into the room. He said, ‘Olivier, do not stand.’”
The Dutch Giant went on to reveal the full extent of his injury — a 7cm tear in his leg bone.
“‘If you are walking, it’s going to break any moment,’ And [the doctor] says, ‘There’s a 50% chance you will heal, and there’s a 50% chance we need surgery. And if you need surgery, you might be limping for the rest of your life.’
“And it was the scariest moment of my life. My whole career was hanging on a few bone shreds.”
Hall, who’s no stranger to physical injuries and mental battles of his own, commended Richters for his honesty and showing “raw emotion”.
The exchange resonated deeply with viewers — not just for what it revealed about the realities of action filmmaking, but for what it showed about vulnerability and strength. One viewer wrote: “It was very unexpected to see this guy cry. Can tell that injury truly tested him mentally and physically.”
Another added: “That giant showing emotion like that in a place like a gym. Come on guys, it’s ok to cry and talk about our s**t — what a lovely side of good mental health to go along with the physical.”
A third comment read: “Seeing this dude shed tears really was unexpected. Can tell that injury really did test him mentally and physically.”
While a fourth summed it up simply: “That’s a real man. Not afraid to feel and express his emotions, yet in full control of his words and channelling it in positive ways. ‘Macho’ men take note.”
Another viewer praised Richters for his authenticity: “Much respect for showing real and unfiltered emotions in front of a camera. It takes strength and character which is a breath of fresh air in a world full of fakeness.”
For fans of Reacher, Richters’ candid story gives a new layer of meaning to his intense on-screen moments. For everybody else, it is proof that even the biggest, toughest stars are sometimes fighting their hardest battles off camera.
Featured image credit: YouTube/Eddie Hall The Beast/The Dutch Giant (screenshot)
