Can you imagine landing your dream role by literally beating up your future co-star? Well, sort of! Nhut Le, the actor who brought the enigmatic Judomaster to life in HBO Max's "Peacemaker," has one of the most unforgettable audition stories we've ever heard.
Most actors have at least one slightly embarrassing or outright strange audition experience. Remember Nicholas Galitzine's Tarzan audition where he had to pretend to hide an orange? But Nhut Le's story takes the cake because the unusual approach was entirely his idea.
During an episode of the official "Peacemaker" podcast, focusing on the season 2 episode "Like a Keith in the Night," Le confessed that he was nearly done with acting when he landed the role of Judomaster. He'd even planned to move back to Pennsylvania and become a full-time pottery instructor! But here's where it gets controversial... Le revealed that his audition tape featured him aggressively attacking a mannequin with John Cena's face taped onto it!
Given that Judomaster spends a significant amount of time physically confronting Cena's character, Peacemaker, including some form of combat in the audition makes logical sense. But the sheer audacity of using Cena's likeness in such a violent manner is what makes it so memorable. And this is the part most people miss... Le had just undergone wisdom teeth removal when he recorded the tape! Talk about dedication to the craft!
Le has undoubtedly been one of the most enjoyable breakout stars of "Peacemaker," perfectly embodying the mysterious, Cheeto-loving martial artist. It's a good thing he didn't give up on his acting career and instead embraced this unconventional auditioning method—otherwise, we might never have experienced his brilliant portrayal of Judomaster, and the DC universe would be all the poorer for it.
According to Le, the casting process took place during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a decade in Los Angeles, he was ready to return to his home state of Pennsylvania. But just before fully committing to pottery, he submitted audition tapes for "Peacemaker," a decision that would ultimately change his life. The initial tape showcased standard combat skills with weapons, as he understood the role was heavily action-oriented. When the casting department requested footage of hand-to-hand combat, Le's creativity kicked into high gear.
He explained: "And so I'd just gotten my wisdom tooth out when I get this call, and I'm like, 'Okay, yeah, I'll turn it right in.' ...I'm holding my jaw so I can't speak, but you can't say no. Just got to do it. I got it, and so I send that in, and then they sent me the sides to do it. And I remember, at this point, I had a little mannequin at my house. [...] So I printed out John's face on a piece of paper and taped it onto this mannequin. I was doing all of the Judomaster bits around this mannequin with, like, eating chips and, like, rubbing it on him."
There's a scene in season 1 where Judomaster taunts a tied-up Peacemaker, and apparently, Le's audition tape capturing that essence was enough to secure him the role. From there, he evolved into a sneakily beloved character. Since his introduction in season 1, Judomaster has transitioned from a true enemy to a frenemy, and is potentially on track to becoming a member of the 11th Street Kids. Here's hoping he remains a part of the DCU for as long as Le desires.
But here's a thought-provoking question: Was Le's aggressive audition tape too much, or was it the perfect way to demonstrate his commitment to the role? Could this type of unorthodox approach backfire for other actors? What do you think? Share your opinions in the comments below!
