Jennifer Garner got “Marvel fit” for her cameo as the sai-wielding assassin Elektra in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and she shared her workout plan in an Instagram video on Monday.
Her return as Elektra was a standout among the A-list superhero cameos in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Garner also disclosed that Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy first pitched the role to her while they were working on the 2022 film “The Adam Project.”
Garner wrote on Instagram.
“I remember the moment @slevydirect and @vancityreynolds had the idea for Elektra Natchios to show up in @deadpoolmovie 3— we were on the set of ‘The Adam Project’ and they gave each other this look they have that can communicate an idea, 20 pages of dialogue, nuclear codes — there is a crazy artistic kismet between those two,”
Garner shared her Elektra workout regime on Instagram, which included sai weapon training, aerobics, swimming, boxing, weight lifting, running, jump rope, rowing, and more.
“Other than trying to convince my kids’ preschool buddies that I was secretly a ninja, I hadn’t picked up Elektra’s sais since 2004; I was fit, but not @marvel fit,” she wrote.
“As this impossible dream became reality, my bestie and OG stunt double @shaunaduggins and I amped up our training, led by @bethjnicely at @thelimitfit: 1x/day, plus whatever homework she assigned for a second workout. Boxing 3x/week with @flvcothefuture from @matchroomxchurchillgym. And lots and lots of @onepeloton’s @becsgentry. 💃🏻🏋🏻♀️🥊🏃🏻♀️🏊🏻♀️ We had #SuperHeroSummer over here, twirling sais in the backyard and laughing at our sore old bodies.”
Garner originally played Elektra in Ben Affleck’s 2003 “Daredevil” movie from 20th Century Fox and headlined her own “Elektra” spinoff in 2005. While neither film was well-received, she got to resurrect the character—alongside other Fox heroes like Wesley Snipes’ Blade, Channing Tatum’s Gambit, and Dafne Keen’s X-23—and give Elektra a proper MCU farewell with “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
“I didn’t know that Elektra and I needed an ending, but Shawn and Ryan did,” she wrote. “They are gifted in many ways, but seeing and elevating people around them is at the top of the list. Shauna and I were in heaven on set with them, with my old pal @thehughjackman, @dafnekeen, @channingtatum, @realwesleysnipes. Shooting the fight was so fun, being there all together—truly like a dream. I’m proud of my friends and grateful to be up there with them. Thank you doesn’t cut it, guys, but it’s a good placeholder until I figure out what does.”
