Terrifying grizzly bear? More like a 'big smurf' claims the stuntman that mauled Leonardo DiCaprio in Oscar nominated epic the Revenant

  • Bear that mauls Leonardo DiCaprio's character played by actor Glen Ennis
  • In preparation for his role Mr Ennis studied videos of how bears hunted
  • Some said it looked like bear was 'raping' DiCaprio's character in the scene
  • The Revenant is in line 12 Oscars including Best Actor for star DiCaprio
  • See Leonardo DiCaprio updates at www.dailymail.co.uk/leo 

By Alex Matthews For Mailonline

Published: 11:18 EST, 23 January 2016 | Updated: 08:37 EST, 24 January 2016

The ferocious grizzly bear that mauls Leonardo Dicaprio's character in the Revenant was more like a 'big smurf' than a terrifying beast - claims one of the film's unsung heroes.

DiCaprio, British actor Tom Hardy and the film's director Alejandro Iñárritu are all in the running for Oscars when the 88th Academy Awards ceremony takes place on February 27.

But one man who will go without mention is an actor who played a part in arguably the film's most talked about scene, stuntman Glen Ennis.

Big Smurf: Glen Ennis, pictured, wears the special blue suit used during his scene with star Leonardo DiCaprio

Big Smurf: Glen Ennis, pictured, wears the special blue suit used during his scene with star Leonardo DiCaprio

Mr Ennis wore a special outfit called a 'blue suit' to create the startling realism that left many movie fans watching through the gaps in their fingers.

However, in reality the killer beast looked completely different to the grizzly that attacked Hugh Glass on-screen.

The 51-year-old who previously worked on graphic novel epic the Watchmen, said in an interview with Global News: 'In rehearsals, I would wear a blue suit with a bear head.

'Obviously that doesn't make it into the film, and the CGI guys paint the bear in. 

'Alejandro [Iñárritu] was adamant that the blue bear moved just like a real bear would move, and it was essential that it had the same nuances that a bear would have. 

'Even though it was a big Smurf bear, it still had to be as authentic as possible.'

Before the Revenant's release there were tales of production proving too tough, with crew members walking off set due to the inhospitable conditions of the Argentinian wilderness.

The scene in which Hugh Glass is mauled by a ferocious bear, pictured, is one of the film's most gruesome

The scene in which Hugh Glass is mauled by a ferocious bear, pictured, is one of the film's most gruesome

There is no doubt that both DiCaprio and Hardy immersed themselves in the role and welcomed the challenge of battling the elements - but Mr Ennis' preparation was less intense.

He said he would often watch videos of bears attacking their prey and study their characteristics as well as the way they moved.

The bear mauling scene, which is as gruelling as it is well choreographed, proved controversial before the film's release as many people took to social media to claim DiCaprio's character was raped.

Mr Ennis said: 'It was people with no life, I guess, who started that. I spent a lot of time rolling around with Leo, but it was all consensual.' 

The Revenant is up for 12 Oscars including Best Picture. 

 

 

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