Stepping into the spotlight as a modern-day successor to Jean-Claude Van Damme, Fabian Arnold is poised to make a remarkable impact with his lead role in the upcoming gay noir action thriller, “Big Rage.” Set against the evocative backdrop of the Salton Sea’s lithium gold rush, Arnold embodies Chad, a complex and haunted fighter searching for a place to call home. With a blend of raw physicality and deep emotional resonance, he navigates a treacherous underworld while confronting personal demons and societal challenges. Arnold’s dedication to the role—drawing from his extensive fitness background and immersive method acting—promises to deliver a performance that is both intensely gripping and profoundly human.
BIG RAGE is a gay noir action thriller that fuses the gritty atmosphere of Chinatown with the tense intrigue of The Big Sleep. Set against the backdrop of the Salton Sea’s booming lithium gold rush, the film follows two former fighters—each haunted by their past—who cross paths in a desperate bid to secure the nation’s future. Navigating the treacherous underworld of this ecological disaster zone, they must confront their own demons and the corrupt forces threatening to destroy everything they hold dear.
The film introduces Fabian Arnold as a modern-day successor to Jean-Claude Van Damme, featuring a screenplay by Emmy Award-winning actor and producer David Millbern and directed by Waymon Boone.
In the following interview, Fabian Arnold opens up about his transformative role in Big Rage, sharing insights into his character’s journey, the challenges of filming in the harsh environment of the Salton Sea, and his emergence as a new force in action cinema.
1- Big Rage combines a gritty noir vibe with action thriller elements. How did you prepare to bring the depth and intensity of this unique character to life, especially in a setting as distinctive as the Salton Sea’s lithium rush?
My character is getting kicked out of his apartment and running around to find a place to call home. With arriving at the Salton Sea everything is “new” for him so there wasn’t much needing to be prepared as it was also new for me as Fabian to be there. I just used my natural first impressions. Chad also never worked as “security” / “secret agent” before so there was a lot that worked out well to make it his natural first time.
2. Your character in Big Rage is described as a modern-day successor to Jean-Claude Van Damme. What kind of physical or mental transformation did you undergo to embody this tough, complex fighter?
For the physical aspect: I’ve been going to the gym since almost 12 years now since I was 16. Besides the shape of my body when I first started acting I also visited different stunt training and stunt schools for example for hand to hand combat and boxing. I worked very close with my stunt directors and we were discussing the stunt choreographies together.
The mental part of it: Chad has always been lonely trying to find home. The wounds of his childhood, coming out with his sexuality and lastly having to deal with killing another human being and more specific another gay guy, brings a lot of rage to the table. It was all about finding the right vulnerability but also rage.
3. The Salton Sea is an intriguing and atmospheric location. How did filming in such an environmentally harsh setting impact your approach to the character and the story’s underlying themes of desperation and resilience?
Fact one: It was hot. We shot in 110 degrees F. I tried to take it the smell and the heat and make it natural for the scenes and also use it. If I had to close my eyes because sweat was dripping down my face, that was just part of the moment and world.
Especially at sunset you were able to see the beauty of the Salton Sea. But it stays in contrast with the smell and also abandoned houses and graffiti. The location itself shows the perfect mix between what it could be and what it is for right now.
4. In this noir thriller, your character faces intense personal demons and moral dilemmas. Can you tell us about a specific scene that challenged you emotionally and what it taught you as an actor?
My monologue in the garage during the second half of the film where Chad tells Clark about killing a man and coming out. That was definitely a turning point in the movie and for my character which I wanted to make right. The only thing its that there is no right or wrong in acting. Just it works or it doesn’t. And I was so in my head stressing about making it right that I had to through away all my external work with the scene and just tell a story. And that was the take we took at the end.
5. Big Rage explores the dark underworld surrounding a modern lithium gold rush. How does your character’s journey reflect or comment on the broader societal and environmental issues tied to this emerging industry?
During the movie Chad really gets to explore and understand the beauty of the Salton Sea. With the lithium possibilities this place could survive and that’s what he cares about the most. He found home and he wants to protect his home.
6. You’re stepping into a genre that blends noir mystery with high-action drama, drawing from classics like Chinatown and The Big Sleep. How did you balance the emotional complexity of a noir with the physical demands of an action thriller?
During the movie Chad really gets to explore and understand the beauty of the Salton Sea. With the lithium possibilities this place could survive and that’s what he cares about the most. He found home and he wants to protect his home.
7. Working with an Emmy Award-winning actor/producer like David Millbern and director Waymon Boone must have been inspiring. What did you learn from their creative direction, and how did they help shape your performance in the film?
Working with both of them let me learn a lot. David himself is an amazing actor as well and we had great analysis about the scenes.
8. Your character’s relationship with a fellow fighter is central to the story. How did you and your co-star build the intense chemistry required to portray such a nuanced and high-stakes dynamic on screen?
I think there was this natural chemistry between Justin and me. We right away had this relation where we weren’t besties which was exactly what we needed to bring to the screen. We only caught up on a coffee once and let the rest of the dynamic develop while filming which helped the characters to naturally bond with each other. Especially because we knew we were starting with the first scenes of the movie first and then later going on to the later scenes.
9. Is there anything about Big Rage that you feel hasn’t been highlighted enough—perhaps a particular aspect of the story, a behind-the-scenes moment, or a message in the film that you’d like audiences to know about?
What I love about Big Rage the most is the central message of the movie. It includes so many people in this modern world especially in my circles. Everyone is hustling, working and trying to make something out of his life but so many of us forget what home actually means. Finding a place and a person and not feeling alone.
10. As Big Rage introduces you as a new action star, audiences are excited to see what’s next. Can you share any upcoming projects or new directions you’re excited to explore in your career?
I have a few projects on the table which I am waiting to close the deal. Besides that I already shot two more feature films which are in the distribution process. One is a psychologic thriller starring Tara Reid and one is a college movie which I am one of the leads in. So I am excited what the future brings.
Here the link for the press release photos taken by Tony Duran:
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