JACK BLACK WRESTLES NACHO STYLE FOR NACHO LIBRE

(VIDEO) Jack Black learns the art of Mexican wrestling in Nacho Libre.

From the quirky mind of Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess, comes Nacho Libre inspired by his love of Lucho Libre, the Mexican style of wrestling. Jack Black was Jared’s first choice to play the Luchador Nacho, the masked wrestler who saves his monastery from financial ruin. Jack says it was wearing the tights that convinced him he could do it.

In reality Jack would be an extra large in the spandex costume but he opted for a medium instead to make sure everything would stay in place during the scenes where he takes to the mat with Mexican wrestler Duendes. Jack says he was no stranger to the sport but eventually got down all the right moves.

“It’s a little embarrassing when you have to wear a costume like that but you’re embarrassed because you think, ‘people are gonna laugh at me.’ Then you realize, ‘wait a second, people are gonna laugh at me,’ it’s good. You just have to get over yourself a little bit. At first I was like, ‘well I don’t know if I can pull that off,’ but I really want to work with Jared so I was like, ‘yeah, yeah, let’s do it.’ Then I did some research and saw some of the old movies and I could see why he thought I would be good at that because I could picture myself in the outfit, doing the wrestling, living in that world of the Luchador. And it seemed really dramatic and fun.”

Jack’s favorite wrestler growing up was Rowdy Roddie Piper, the WWF wrestling legend who wore a Scottish kilt in the ring. Nacho Libre opens Friday in theaters nationwide.rn

“I have done some judo in my youth so I wasn’t totally lacking in some wrestling skills. I wasn’t a total stranger to the mat as it were. But it was difficult going and training in Luchador wrestling, Lucho Libre. I sweat a lot and learning just the basic moves was a challenge but in the end I felt pretty comfortable out there. It was fun.”