Adam Sandler almost choked when filming a scene for Uncut Gems, according to the film's director Josh Safdie.
The 53-year-old actor, who won acclaim for his role as impulsive, gambling addict Howard Ratner in the movie, was left in agony by stuntmen during an intense scene.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Safdie revealed that the nearly fatal moment happened while filming the now infamous scene when Sandler's character is kidnapped by his loan shark brother-in-law.
''All three of those guys who are manhandling Sandler, it was the first movie they've done."
''So they were very professional, but when it's your first time - Sandler's so in it, he's so into the character that it started to actually get a little scary one or two times, because he's getting choked at one point in the scene and there were all these cues.''
The 36-year-old filmmaker praised the movie's stunt coordinator for quickly noticing that Sandler was in discomfort.
''Our stunt driver was actually also the stunt coordinator, so he had eyes on him the whole time, and kudos to him that he was really hawk-eyed about it - because there was one take when Sandler was getting choked and he was trying to tap out, but the actor thought he was just being Howard so he choked harder, and Adam couldn't breathe," he said.
