Justin Theroux shares a breather with co-star Emily Blunt after they film harrowing fight scene for The Girl On The Train 

For a guy who's only just begun filming his new movie, Justin Theroux has been put through the ringer.

The 44-year-old actor threw himself - and his co-star Emily Blunt - into another dramatic scene on the chilly New York City set of psychological thriller The Girl On The Train on Tuesday.

SPOILER ALERT, Justin shot a scene with the 32-year-old English actress that saw them fighting and struggling against each other before he hurled her to the ground.

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Break time: Justin Theroux lightened up during a break on the NY set of The Girl On The Train with co-star Emily Blunt on Tuesday

It was all part of a day's work and afterwards the two stars were seen relaxing on the sidelines and exchanging laughs and small talk.

Last week Justin filmed a scene in which he got stabbed in the neck with a corkscrew, and this scene got physical as well.

Cameras followed Justin and Emily as their characters - who are divorced - argue on a darkened street at night.

Struggle: The stars filmed a scene in which their characters - who are divorced - fight on a street at night

Heated exchange: Emily plays Rachel, an unemployed alcoholic who can't get over the fact that her ex Tom, played by Justin, has moved on with another woman

Ready, set, push: Justin and Emily continued to argue on camera as a prop man prepared to break the fall that was soon to come

Justin was then seen losing his composure before hurling Emily to the ground (where a comfy padded mattress lay in wait to soften the actress' fall).

Justin was clad in light trousers and a black jacket while Emily was wearing a brown leather jacket, patterned skirt, black tights and high heels.

During their break, Emily slipped into a long down coat to keep her warm in those 40-plus-degree Fahrenheit temperatures.

Grappling: The 44-year-old actor was gaining the advantage in this fight

Falling: Emily was flung towards the ground during the carefully orchestrated scene and onto a protective mattress 

The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Paula Hawkins and follows an alcoholic, unemployed woman named Rachel who takes the train every morning as though going to work even though she lost her job due to her binge drinking.

Rachel's husband Tom (Theroux) has left her for another woman and she tortures herself by looking at her former home he now shares with his new family.

She begins to obsess over a couple - Megan and Scott - who live close by and appear to have the perfect life, and when Megan disappears Rachel tries to help Scott unravel the mystery, both to help him and give her a reason for living other than drinking.

Things that go bump in the night: The English actress was a good sport and made the fall looked real

The story was originally set in London but was moved to New York City after Dreamworks snapped up the film rights to the British author's book.

Justin joined the project only recently after Chris Evans, who was originally cast in the role of Tom, had to drop out reportedly due to a scheduling conflict.

Tate Taylor (The Help, Get On Up) is directing the film while Steven Spielberg is producing and supervising the production.

Whew: Justin and Emily relaxed on the sidelines at one point during the night's shoot

Meanwhile, Justin was forced to defend the script he wrote for Zoolander 2 after critics took issue with the trailer that featured an androgynous model character portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.

A petition to boycott the movie has received online signatures from more than 21,400 supporters.

'I don't even know what to make of it, because it hurts my feelings in a way,' Justin told The Wrap in an article that appeared on Monday.

'I take great care in the jokes I write, and the umbrage being taken is out of the context of the scene. I wish people would see the movie first,' he added. 

Defense mode: Justin wrote the screenplay for Zoolander 2 which has come under fire from critics who complained about an androgynous model character played by Benedict Cumberbatch as seen in the trailer