Exclusive Interview: Former Bodybuilder Daniel Stisen Talks About His Role in Stand Your Ground and His Hollywood Journey

From bodybuilder to action star, Daniel Stisen’s road to Stand Your Ground.

Daniel Stisen, a former world-class bodybuilder from Norway turned rising action star, delivers his biggest punch yet in Stand Your Ground, a brutal and emotionally charged revenge thriller from Epic Pictures. The film opened in select AMC Theatres on May 9 and will hit digital and on-demand platforms on May 27.

Directed by Swedish filmmaker Fansu Njie (Last Man Down), Stand Your Ground tells the story of Jack Johnson (Stisen), a former Special Forces operative who returns home to start fresh with his pregnant wife (Roxi Kravitz). Their hopes are shattered when she is murdered during a brutal attack orchestrated by a local crime boss, Bastion, played by veteran actor Peter Stormare (Constantine).

Fueled by rage, Jack kills one of the attackers, only to learn he’s just taken the life of one of Bastion’s sons. Jack is arrested and spends six years behind bars. When he’s finally released, he returns to a town still under Bastion’s thumb and a justice system that failed him. Desperate for closure, he invokes the Stand Your Ground law, setting a deadly trap for Bastion’s eldest son, Leon (Michael Billington). The move leaves Leon in a coma, and Bastion unleashes a wave of assassins to exact revenge.

But Jack is prepared. Armed with military training, sharpened instincts, and nothing left to lose, he transforms his home into a fortress. As the bloodshed escalates, Bastion’s daughter, Molly (Isobel Laidler), and town Sheriff Dwayne (Patrick Regis) begin questioning the cycle of violence and confronting Bastion’s grip over the community.

“This movie is about defending your family, your home, your freedom,” Stisen said during our conversation. “It’s personal, but it escalates into a full-blown war.”

Daniel Stisen’s own journey mirrors the grit and determination of his character.

Raised in a small village in Norway, he discovered early on that he wanted to be in movies—even telling his English teacher at age 8 that he was learning the language to go to Hollywood. That childhood dream faded during his bodybuilding years, but never truly disappeared.

“I told myself, you’re probably too old to start now,” Stisen recalled. “But I couldn’t shake it. I started making short films with friends, they were terrible—but I loved it. So, I signed up for acting classes, trained like I did for competitions, and kept pushing forward.”

That sports mentality served him well as he transitioned into acting. In preparation for Stand Your Ground, Stisen trained with stunt teams, attended courses with private military contractors, and immersed himself in tactical combat.

“I didn’t just want to be a bodybuilder throwing punches—I wanted the fights to feel real,” he said. “I trained like I was going to war. That’s how you earn the respect of stunt teams and sell it on screen.”

Stisen’s love of ‘80s action is evident throughout the film.

The film features brutal hand-to-hand combat and explosive set pieces. He credits action legends like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger as early influences. He remembers sneaking behind his dad’s chair to secretly watch Rambo: First Blood Part II and Commando—movies his religious mother forbade him to see.

“My dad owned a gym and trained powerlifters, so those kinds of guys were my role models growing up,” said Stisen. “Arnold wasn’t just a movie star—he was a blueprint.”

Stisen and director Fansu Njie first worked together on Last Man Down, a cult hit on Netflix, and their second collaboration raises the bar. Njie brings an international lens to a very American story, tackling themes of justice, trauma, and the consequences of violence.

Despite the film’s heavy tone, Stisen shared a laugh from set, specifically when a scene didn’t go as planned.

“There’s a sequence where I run through a house as FX rounds are being fired behind me,” Stisen said. “The weapons tech told me, ‘I’ve been doing this for 20 years, you’ll be fine.’ Then—bam—he hits me in the leg. It hurt, but I walked it off. That’s showbiz.”

Stand Your Ground is a throwback to gritty action classics like John Wick, Rambo, and Taken, but with a grounded emotional core. It’s not just about shootouts—it’s about pain, purpose, and redemption.

And for Daniel Stisen, this is just the beginning. “You aim for the stars, maybe you land on the moon. Maybe you even hit a star,” he said. “I’m still punching through walls, but I’m getting closer.”

Stand Your Ground is in theaters now. Available on digital and on demand May 27, 2025.

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