Matilda Lutz was 'nervous' in her 'Red Sonja' chainmail bikini. Then she owned it.
The trailer for the new fantasy action film 'Red Sonja" (in theaters Aug. 15 and video on demand Aug. 29), starring Italian actress Matilda Lutz as the title character, even hints to its impracticality, tongue fully in cheek. Sonja is trying to obtain some protection for battle and an armorer shows off what will become her signature wear. 'And that protects …?' she asks, dumbfounded, before he answers, 'Nothing. The crowd will love it,' followed by a faux sexy shimmy.
Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
'I was obviously a bit nervous about being so exposed on set in a chainmail bikini,' Lutz tells USA TODAY before the 'Red Sonja' panel at Comic-Con, the San Diego pop-culture festival. But she also felt it was utilized 'in such a smart way' in the context of the movie.
Directed by M.J. Bassett, 'Red Sonja' centers on the title character, chained but fearless, battling through obstacles thrown her way by Emperor Dragan (Robert Sheehan). She forms an army of warrior outcasts to take on the tyrant and his ruthless bride, Dark Annisia (Wallis Day), and win their freedom.
The chainmail bikini 'is used as an element of power that the emperor has over her, like a violence that he's doing to her. But then she owns it,' Lutz says. 'It was so liberating to use exposure and vulnerability that you have doing fights in a chainmail bikini, but you're fighting against these soldiers with big armor and you're still winning. It was so fun to do that.'
Before she got the script and auditioned, Lutz didn't know a lot about Red Sonja, based on the crimson-haired warrior Red Sonja of Rogatino from Robert E. Howard's 1934 short story 'The Shadow of the Vulture.' But Lutz fell hard for her.
'She was everything I wanted in one character: fierce, raw, untamed, badass, but also vulnerable and full of humanity,' says the actress, who's starred in Coralie Fargeat's survival horror movie 'Revenge,' the Justin Timberlake crime drama "Reptile" and the Daisy Ridley thriller "Magpie."
Lutz began reading the modern comics that dug into Red Sonja's backstory and fleshed out her persona, and sees this film as "the tip of the evolvement of this character," she says. 'The one thing that really stood out from the comics to me was that she was a warrior but she was also a survivor.
"The question was like, 'She's lost everything, but what is she willing to do for others?' She kept going. And that's what I wanted to bring to the film.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
'The Challenge: Vets and New Threats': Cast, release date, how to watch
"The Challenge" is pitting a cohort of newcomers against seasoned veterans on its newest season, "Vets and New Threats." Season 41 of the reality competition show is set to kick off on July 30 after airing a launch special on July 23. "The Challenge," one of the genre's longest-running series, brings together a group of competitors facing off in a series of mental and physical challenges in the quest for a massive cash prize. While the original iterations of the show only saw alumni from "The Real World" and "Road Rules," the modern version has expanded to include competitors from reality shows around the globe. Here's what to know about the new season. When does 'The Challenge' Season 41 premiere? "The Challenge: Vets and New Threats" will premiere on Wednesday, July 30 at 8 p.m. ET. It will be hosted by TJ Lavin. How to watch 'The Challenge: Vets and New Threats' The new season of "The Challenge" will air on MTV. Aside from watching it live, viewers with some TV providers can use their login to stream the show on MTV's website or app. A list of participating TV providers is available on MTV's website. It won't be available to stream on other platforms, a Paramount spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY. 'The Challenge' Season 41 will see veterans, newcomers pair up While "The Challenge: Vets and New Threats" doesn't air until July 30, a "launch special" episode was released on July 23. The episode, which is available to watch on YouTube, covers the beginning of the competition. It includes a challenge that determines the order each contestant enters the house and picks their partner. Lavin explained during the episode that one vet and one new threat will each pair up as a team for the competition. 'The Challenge: Vets and New Threats' cast The 41st season of "The Challenge" will feature 32 players, including 16 veterans and 16 new competitors. They include: Vets New threats Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
'AI models in Vogue?' Guess ad sparks uproar
Vogue and Guess are under fire for the label's use of an AI model in an advert within the magazine's latest issue. In Vogue's latest issue, a two-page Guess ad features a model sitting with at a table while wearing a pale blue romper detailed with creme floral mesh appliqué, and the same model leaning against a wall in a black-and-white chevron-patterned maxi dress, with a coordinating handbag. In fine print in the corner of the ad reads: "Produced by Seraphinne Vallora on AI." Reactions to the use of an artificial intelligence-generated model has been swift. Social media commentary have been harsh, especially toward Vogue, with calls to discontinue support for the magazine. "boycott Vogue NOW! they're pushing out models for AI, devaluing hard work and art of real people," one user wrote on X. "Had to end the Vogue magazine subscription I've had for years because the latest magazine used AI models ??? In Vogue? AI models in Vogue?" another person wrote. Had to end the Vogue magazine subscription I've had for years because the latest magazine used AI models ??? In Vogue? AI models in Vogue? Others shared disappointment that a real model was not used. "so many models wanting to appear in vogue, only for them to end up using AI models," one person wrote. "No actual human being has body proportions naturally like this with that symmetrical of a face and that airbrushed of of skin," YouTuber Isabel Brown said in a reaction video. "There already was major societal backlash to magazines trying to make women look completely unattainable and not realistic whatsoever." Guess has yet to post the advertisement on its social media pages. That has not stopped commenters from calling out the clothing company on other posts. USA TODAY has reached out to Vogue and Guess for comment. Seraphinne Vallora responds to AI, Vogue backlash The one company that has come out about the ad is its creator, Seraphinne Vallora. Described as an "AI-driven" marketing agency, the company's work has also been seen in Elle, Grazia, the Wall Street Journal, FT Magazine and Harper's Bazaar, according to the company's website. A post shared by Seraphinne Vallora (@seraphinnevallora) "Why can't engineers, graphic designers, 3D artists, coders, architect -any kind of creative- build beauty too?" the company said in a July 27 Instagram post. "And funnily enough, we actually hire photographers and models as part of our workflow," the company added, "we understand people may think Al will be replacing jobs, but in reality, it's just like any other tool in the design industry and it CREATES jobs, because this images are Al-Driven but made by HUMANS, CREATIVES AND DESIGNERS." H&M made headlines earlier this year when it announced it planned to make digital clones of its models, though it's "exploring" how to do so in "a responsible way."
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Cierra Ortega reveals if she will be at the 'Love Island: USA' reunion
Cierra Ortega was removed from "Love Island: USA" Season 7 after her past use of a racial slur resurfaced. Cierra Ortega will not be attending the "Love Island: USA" Season 7 reunion. "At this point in time, I will not be at the reunion," she said in a nearly 10-minute TikTok video posted on July 27. "So I feel lighter knowing that my perspective, my thoughts, my feelings and my emotions is out there." The 25-year-old left the villa during the July 6 episode after past social media posts resurfaced showing her using a racist slur against people of Asian descent. On the show, her exit was attributed to a "personal" situation. She later apologized and confirmed that her exit stemmed from posts "where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term," she said in a social media video. "I had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm, and came with the history that it did, or I never would have used it," she said at the time. Streaming service Peacock declined to comment about Ortega's absence from the reunion when contacted by USA TODAY. 'Love Island: USA': Cierra Ortega's apology, cancel culture and why Gen Z has a big problem 'Beginning to close this chapter of my life' Ortega opened up about her experience on the dating reality show in a series of lengthy TikTok videos posted July 27. She briefly addressed her absence from the show's upcoming reunion, which will air in August. While Ortega confirmed she won't be attending the reunion, she didn't say whether the decision was made by her or by Peacock. "I think this is the first step for me in moving on and beginning to close this chapter of my life," she said. "And I'm never gonna shy away from the fact that the experience did end negatively because of my own actions, and that's something that I'll have to deal with." Cierra Ortega reveals how producers told her she was leaving 'Love Island: USA' In another TikTok video posted July 27, Ortega revealed how producers told her she would be leaving the villa. She said a producer pulled her for what she thought was a routine check-in on July 4. "They just told me point blank, 'There's been some posts that have surfaced on your social media that don't align with our values, they don't align with the network's values, and we don't have any choice but to remove you from the show,'" she said. How to watch 'Love Island: USA' Season 7 reunion The "Love Island USA" Season 7 reunion is scheduled to premiere on Aug. 25 at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock. Andy Cohen and Ariana Madix are expected to host the episode. If you need to catch up on episodes before the reunion or just want to rewatch, the entire season is also available on Peacock. The streaming service offers two subscription options: premium for $7.99 a month, and premium plus for $13.99 a month. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
