‘Fight Or Flight’: Josh Hartnett & James Madigan On Their Balls-to-the-Wall Action Comedy, Punk Rock Production, ‘The Faculty’ Reboot & More

The Playlist Podcast Network

n this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo boards the wild, rowdy, and frankly chaotic flight of "Fight or Flight" with star Josh Hartnett and director James Madigan. Picture this: you're stuck on a plane, half-drunk, and suddenly everyone around you turns out to be deadly assassins—basically, the worst flight imaginable. That’s precisely the mess Lucas (Hartnett) finds himself navigating in this adrenaline-charged comedy-action flick. Known for his second-unit action chops on blockbusters like "Transformers" and "The Meg," Madigan boldly steps up to the plate, making an assured directorial debut with a scrappy, humorous energy that pairs perfectly with Hartnett’s laid-back charisma. The film also features a stellar ensemble including Katee Sackhoff, Charithra Chandran, and Julian Kostov.

Hartnett explained that Madigan’s initial pitch immediately hooked him. "One of the first things James said was, 'I want the action sequences to feel like musical numbers,'" Hartnett laughed. "He wanted character growth to happen through action. That felt essential—and honestly, pretty exciting.”