Bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest made the most of his time as a thriving IFBB Pro. In a YouTube video shared on December 11, 2024, he discussed using a motion capture suit for the 2003 Hulk film and explained why he doesn’t sympathize with Ronnie Coleman’s or Flex Wheeler’s health issues.
During his bodybuilding tenure, Lee Priest showcased freaky muscularity and some of the best conditioning ever seen in the Men’s Open class. Although he lacked height, his compact muscle density turned him into a lethal threat on stage.
While competing actively, Priest faced the who’s who in bodybuilding. He managed to defeat Ronnie Coleman in his prime and regularly squared off against Flex Wheeler, both of whom struggle with ongoing health issues in retirement. In between contests, Priest also explored the entertainment industry and detailed his experiences below.
Lee Priest Talks Role in 2003 Hulk Movie and Shares Views on Ronnie Coleman’s and Flex Wheeler’s Resilience Amid Health Struggles
Priest revealed that he was tapped for a role in the 2003 Hulk film and used a motion capture suit to bring the superhero to life on screen.
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“I did a lot of the movements for it. So, I went up to Universal and did like a tryout for it, there were other bodybuilders there. When I was leaving they said the stunt coordinator wanted to see you. Because I was in contest shape, you could see the muscles moving, the veins, and Ang Lee, the director, he had one of those motion capture suits where you move it, it looks like a stick figure.”
“They flew me up to George Lucas’ studio. I was in a big warehouse like this, there was probably like 16 cameras around me.
He was responsible for movements like running, jumping, and lifting objects. He also helped create the video game when the sequel was released.
“And all the movements, the running, the jumping, when he’s lifting stuff up, they filmed me doing that, then downloaded it in the computer and built the hulk from that frame. When the second movie came out, I did the same thing for the video games.”
Priest reacted to Jay Cutler dubbing him as one of the most impressive bodybuilders he’s ever seen.
“I find those compliments are better than actually winning contests because there’s Jay Cutler, who’s a four-time Mr. Olympia, they asked him who was the freakiest bodybuilder you’ve ever seen. Jay was like ‘Listen, Lee Priest, he goes, look I’ve stood on stage beside Ronnie, I’ve competed with Ronnie, Lee Priest.'”
“Even Ronnie Coleman, he got upset when I beat him. Hearing that from other people, that’s pretty good,” shares Priest.
He revealed that his documentary will be out soon, featuring insight from a handful of bodybuilders including Jay Cutler, Flex Lewis, Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, Jose Raymond, Paul Dillett, and Ed Connors.
“I’ve seen a rough copy of it. It should be over two hours. I like it because I’m in it a little bit but I like to hear the other people talk. Jay is in it, Flex Lewis is in it, Dennis James, Milos, Jose Raymond, there’s a ton of people in it and they’re just telling their funny stories, they are asking them questions about me and their answers are pretty good. Paul Dillett is in it, Ed Connors is in it.”
“I haven’t seen all of it put together. When I see it again, I’ll be shocked, I think Mike O’Hearn might be in it now too,” he adds.
While some bodybuilding fans feel bad for Coleman and Wheeler given their health, Priest isn’t upset about it.
“I don’t think of it as poor [Ronnie Coleman] it’s different now because you remember him competing to now, and some people go I feel sorry for him this and that. But it’s like Ronnie’s not upset about it, so why should I be upset.”
In retirement, Coleman and Wheeler give back to the bodybuilding community. If they don’t feel miserable about their circumstances, Priest argued that he shouldn’t either.
“I competed with Flex and Flex lost his leg but Flex still gets out there and does stuff. I’m thinking if he’s not feeling miserable about himself, why should I?
If they are happy and still doing stuff, people are like Ronnie shouldn’t be training, but look at Ronnie, he’s still smiling, he’s still happy, he’s still traveling the world and people still adore him from what he’s done. Even though he’s not the Ronnie we used to see, he’s still Ronnie.”
From movie endeavors to reflections on the careers of bodybuilding legends, Lee Priest has made a lasting mark on the sport, inspiring a new generation to seize every opportunity. As one of bodybuilding’s most notable ambassadors, he continues to share never-before-told stories and memories from his decorated tenure.
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