Directed by James Nunn and written by Jamie Russell, One Shot is a 96-minute, high-octane race of a film. As its name implies, One Shot was filmed in one continuous shot, leading audiences to experience the same action-packed and immersive journey as its characters. Starring acclaimed martial artist and action star Scott Adkins as NAVY Seal Jake Harris, One Shot revolves around an elite team of trained marksmen and CIA analysts attempting to stop a dirty bomb from hitting Washington D.C. To prevent the terrorist attack, Jake Harris travels to a CIA black site to interrogate a detainee for information on the incoming threat. However, things go horribly wrong when the island prison facility is attacked by an outside threat.

During an interview with CBR, Adkins delved into the logistics of shooting a film in one continuous take. He shared what it was like to frame One Shot's action sequences around its close-up shots, as staged by Ong Bak 2's fight coordinator Tim Man. Adkins also teased how much fun he had filming the upcoming John Wick 4 alongside fellow martial artists Donnie Yen and Keanu Reeves, promising audiences will "get a kick out of it."

RELATED: John Wick 4: Scott Adkins Circling Role in Keanu Reeves Film

one shot scott adkins

CBR: One Shot, like the name teases, was shot in a literal 96-minute continuous shot. How did you keep up your stamina for that, considering every day was like this long stage play?

Scott Adkins: Yeah, I don't know, really. I was telling myself the same thing when I was fighting the one guy who's a cage fighter and pretty fit and I was completely out of breath, and he was doing a lot better than me. Also, we shot the film chronologically -- I don't want to give anything away -- but the action is loaded to the back of the movie. The further into the movie we got, the more painful it got and the more out of breath we got.

But now I knew it was going to be a challenge. I've done enough one-take stuff within other movies to know how difficult it is. I just figured it'd be a great challenge to try and do a whole new movie like that. I think we pulled it off. I'm proud of the film.

Since you shot it one shot and chronologically, how did that affect what kind of fighting styles were brought into the film? It looks like more judo and jiu-jitsu -- because we are so close to these characters on-screen.

Well, the thing is, I'm a big fan of the oners, as we call them, that have come before -- Extraction, Atomic Blonde, Tony Jaa, Old Boy. When you're doing it, there's this will inside me to want to try and outdo those guys and all these crazy fight moves. Like, "Let's do some mad stunts! Let's do some somersaults!" -- All this, but of course, what you got to do is you've got to stick to the tone of the movie that you're making.

Our movie is quite serious. The action is very impressive and good to look at, but we didn't want to take away from the story we told by doing crazy, cool-looking stuff that didn't really suit the tone of the movie. So it was important that we kept it realistic to a certain degree. So yes, the close-quarter combat. And obviously, when I can use a gun, I'll use a gun because it'd be stupid not to if someone is coming at you. We would go into stealth when I'm trying to keep quiet like in that Splinter Cell game, and I'm going up and shanking people while trying not to make too much noise. Then, of course, when it gets to the end of the film, it's like, bullets have run out. You can get into some good fisticuffs, but we wanted to be true to the tone of the film.

RELATED: The 5 Best 4K Action Movies to Own

one shot scott adkins

What was it that attracted you to the role of Jake?

It wasn't so much the role as it was the concept of the film and working with James Nunn for the third time. It was the second film we did like when we wrapped that we first came up with a concept to do an action film in one continuous take -- and then it took us six years to actually do it. But we always felt like that style of filmmaking really draws you in as you're watching it because there are no edits. It's kind of hard to turn away. It's like there's no break from it. Birdman was out at the time and I think that was a big inspiration for us.

I read that you contributed the prison island facility setting as part of the film. Why did you feel that was important to add to the film's setting?

This is pretty much all I contributed. We thought, "Let's do a film in one take. Where can we do it?" I had this idea in my head for this prison island. Basically a rip-off of the old Ray Liotta film [No Escape], probably. But I was like, "Let's do on a prison island, man!" Originally, we had a different concept and the script wasn't much more like a Mad Max type of film -- much more outrageous. That completely changed and became this Guantanamo Bay prison island and a much more serious thing.

RELATED: Snakehead Brings an Effective & Lurid Look at Chinatown's Criminal Underworld

one shot scott adkins

People love to use the word "gun-fu" when talking about close combat fighting in films with guns. What was the trickiest part about -- for lack of a better word -- using gun-fu in One Shot, based on how you filmed it?

Gun fu, to my understanding -- gun fu is mixing jujitsu. I prefer gun-jitsu. I think that's better. Mixing jujitsu, judo locks with guns, close-quarters combat like that. Many have gun kata, which was like Equilibrium, right? But it all sort of stems from John Woo movies, which I love.

What was the hardest part about doing gun-jitsu and close combat in One Shot? It looks like the cameras are literally right behind, they're that close during filming!

Well, that's just it. It's a dance between not only you and the stunt man, or the other actor, but also with the camera team, the boom operator, the lighting. Everything's got to be coordinated so that we all work together in unison. It takes a bit of doing.

You got to be wary of where the camera is, so that I'm not stacking the other guy. When it hits, making it look like a hit, but I can't block it so the camera doesn't see. You got to open up. There are all these little tricks that go into making fight sequences. When you're doing it in one continuous take, it's not just good to get it right once. You've got to get it right for that entirety of that take, right?

Of course, we didn't do the whole movie's [action sequences] in one continuous take. That's impossible for an action film. You could be doing like five minutes, six-minute action sequence. If you get the bit wrong, a good five minutes and 30 seconds, you get to go back to the beginning again. It's everyone doing it, so it can be tricky. Then you've got to deal with the weather as well. The sun coming out on the clouds and all this rain. Not easy. I don't know why we did it. It was stupid.

RELATED: Donnie Yen's Sleeping Dogs Film May Begin Shooting in 2022

Speaking of roles you have coming up, you're going to be starring in John Wick 4, which means you'll be starring again with Donnie Yen. I would love to hear what it's like working with him and what he brings to the table that's so unique to him?

Well, Donnie is an amazing filmmaker himself. Of course, he's this badass martial arts superstar. But like many of those guys to look up to -- like him, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung -- he's very aware of the craft of filmmaking. He's very aware of how to make a film. He's an incredible action director in his own right. So he has his own opinions, of course, and you must listen to him because he knows what he's talking about, [laughs] but it only helps make everything better. He's so experienced.

He's got a really cool character in this one. I shouldn't say anything but... An extremely cool character. I think people are gonna really get a kick out of seeing what he does in the John Wick universe.

Is there anything that you can tease about your role as Killa in John Wick 4?

I'm not gonna say anything other than it was a great thrill. I'm a big fan of Chad Stahelski and Keanu [Reeves], of course. I can confirm that Keanu is as nice as everybody says he is. He's a fantastic person. I view the John Wick movies as the best action films that are going on at the moment. Talking about action films, there's nothing better than a John Wick movie. It is the cream of the crop. For me, someone who's dedicated his life to action films, I'm so happy to be involved. I can't wait to see it.

One Shot debuts in theaters on Nov. 5. He'll also be kicking butt in the next John Wick film, due out in theaters on May 27, 2022.

KEEP READING: John Wick 4’s Keanu Reeves Helps Production Crew Haul Equipment in Full Costume