Charlize Theron Recalls ‘One of the Best Experiences’ Shooting Netflix’s 'Apex' Ahead of 'The Odyssey' Release

Published 05/26/2026, 10:08 AM CDT

Credits: Kane Skennar/Netflix

Ahead of The Odyssey, Charlize Theron speaks about how Netflix's survival thriller Apex is one of her greatest career experiences. Hollywood action icons frequently push their bodies to the absolute brink, but very few willingly sign up for a gruelling training regimen that mirrors official military preparation. Charlize Theron recently looked back at the real-world physical challenges she conquered while filming the major streaming survival thriller.

The seasoned performer openly embraced an incredibly taxing environment to deliver maximum authenticity on screen.

Charlize Theron conquering the wilds for Apex

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Charlize Theron recently opened up about her intense experience filming the hit Netflix survival-action thriller Apex, which was directed by Baltasar Kormákur. Theron positively compared the entire high-intensity production experience to a standard Marine boot camp.

"This was one of the best experiences that I have ever had," Theron enthusiastically shared during her reflection in an interview with Elle. To prepare for her demanding role fighting for survival, the actress even underwent exhausting rock-climbing training in the rugged Australian wilderness alongside the esteemed climber, Beth Rodden.

She noted that filming on location allowed the environment to genuinely affect the cast, removing any need to manufacture fake emotions. The actress thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Kormákur and praised the entire production crew for possessing an intense drive to push creative boundaries.

“I loved the team, and I really loved working with Baltasar. I think all of us had a certain personality of wanting to push harder. And when you put a group of those kinds of people together, it’s pretty amazing what they can accomplish”, she said. This shared mindset allowed the tight-knit team to accomplish remarkable cinematic feats under highly challenging circumstances.

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The extreme nature of the shoot required an astonishing level of physical dedication from the entire crew.

The risky cliffside vertigo in the outback

The sheer physical demands of Apex actually surpassed the heavy action requirements of her upcoming summer blockbuster role in The Odyssey. To convincingly portray a grieving rock climber on a punishing trek, Theron trained extensively alongside legendary professional climber Beth Rodden. In the same Elle interview, the dedicated Hollywood star estimates that she personally executed roughly 98 percent of the dangerous climbing maneuvers shown throughout the film.

This extensive stunt work included a highly harrowing free solo climb out of a deep gorge during the climactic finale. On just the second day of production, Theron boldly executed a 30-foot jump off a cliff into merely seven feet of water. The relentless daily schedule required the cast and crew to drive two hours and hike an additional hour just to reach the remote sets.

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Credits: Kane Skennar/Netflix

The crew relied on helicopters to transport heavy production equipment into the wilderness while carrying the remaining gear up the mountains by hand. Every single evening, the entire team had to reverse their long trek to safely exit the backcountry before the sun set. This uncompromising commitment to practical filmmaking ultimately transformed the survival picture into a standout moment in her decorated action career.

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What do you think about Charlize Theron's experience on Apex? Let us know in the comments.

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Soma Mitra

1341 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Adiba Nizami

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