Unstoppable required Jharrel Jerome to put in a lot of work to become wrestling champ Anthony Robles. Much of it is right there on the screen, from wrestling to lifting to weighted runs — often on crutches, as Robles was born without a right leg.
“I am the most in shape I’ve ever been in my life,” the actor, 27, tells PEOPLE. Grimacing, remembering his grueling training regimen, he adds wryly, “so it’s great.”
Unstoppable tells the incredible story of Arizona State University alum Robles, now 36, becoming a 2011 NCAA champion after launching a wrestling career in high school. Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale and Don Cheadle play real-life figures in Robles’ life.
To recreate his matches in the ring, Jerome and Robles himself (a stunt double and consultant on the film, producing alongside Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) followed choreographed moves in exacting detail. That meant not only training to …