Rosamund Pike Reflects on “Catastrophic” Experience Filming ‘Doom’

Rosamund Pike has recently shared her candid thoughts on starring in the 2005 science-fiction action horror film Doom, describing the experience as a “catastrophe” and “one of the worst films ever made.” The film, based on the popular video game series by id Software, featured Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Karl Urban alongside Pike.

From Cornfields to Mars: Pike’s Initial Enthusiasm

Pike recounted how she initially accepted the role while filming Pride & Prejudice. “When I was making Pride & Prejudice and I was having great fun in my cornfields in my bonnet, I acquire a call to be in an action franchise,” she explained on the “How to Fail with Elizabeth Day” podcast via Dexerto. She thought, “Yeah, I can do anything. I can jump on this hay bale in my crinoline, so I can certainly go and kill some zombies on Mars.”

Feeling Ill-Equipped on Set

Yet, Pike’s enthusiasm quickly waned upon arriving on set. She felt “utterly ill-equipped” to be an action star alongside “macho guys” like Johnson and Urban. “There were weights on the set. Every time a gun was brought out, it was kind of like a holy relic for the Doom fans,” she said according to CBR. “I was just out of my comfort zone, out of my league, out of my depth.”

A Box Office Bomb and Critical Failure

Doom, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, follows a team of space marines sent to investigate a research facility on Mars where they encounter genetically enhanced creatures as detailed on IMDb. Despite featuring a cast including Johnson, Urban, and Pike, the film was a commercial and critical disappointment. It grossed $58.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $60-70 million according to Wikipedia. Reviews were largely negative, with a 18% score on Rotten Tomatoes as noted by Wikipedia.

A Career-Threatening Experience

Pike expressed relief at having “survived” the film, suggesting it could have derailed her career. “It was an absolute bomb. I mean, I probably could have ended my career,” she stated. “It was just probably one of the worst films ever made. I mean, it was a catastrophe.”

Doom’s Legacy

While Doom (2005) was largely unsuccessful, Universal Pictures released a direct-to-video sequel, Doom: Annihilation, in 2019 as reported by Wikipedia. Pike’s reflections offer a stark reminder of the challenges actors face when navigating the action genre and the risks associated with video game adaptations.