"Sweated my ass off": Ned Luke hated filming GTA V’s yoga mission scene

In a recent social media response, GTA V's actor for Michael De Santa, Ned Luke, disclosed that the notorious yoga mission from the game wasn't only unpopular with gamers, it was additionally a nightmare to shoot too. According to Luke, the motion capture session for the mission lasted a grueling eight hours and left him physically exhausted, calling it “hands down the worst to shoot.”

Ned Luke's blunt opinion on GTA V's yoga mission

The moment came when GTA 6 Countdown posted about the yoga mission being the worst part of GTA V, prompting Ned Luke to bluntly respond with his own behind-the-scenes experience, "Sweated my ass off for 8 hours. Hands down the worst to shoot."

The response quickly went viral among the gaming community, as many of them have for a long time made light of the slow pace and cringe-worthy gameplay of the mission.The "Did Somebody Say Yoga?" mission was intended to be a humorous but contemplative section of the game, with Michael trying to reconnect with his wife.

But its rhythm-shattering quick-time yoga actions provoked mixed responses. Now that Luke has given us a behind-the-scenes look, it's apparent that the scene didn't come easy to the actor either, particularly considering the physicality of motion capture.

Why the yoga mission still sparks debate

The yoga mission has been a subject of discussion within the GTA fan base for a long time. Some appreciated it as a witty piece of satire, while others viewed it as a boring respite from the shoot-'em-up mayhem GTA V is infamous for.

Luke's recent statement validates that the mission wasn't only challenging to players' patience, it was challenging to his body as well.Motion capture is already a grueling process, but replicating yoga positions in a suit for eight hours obviously tested the actor to his limits. His response brings a degree of human nuance to a scene that, although divisive, is one of the most memorable moments in the game. What was intended to be a fun-filled mission in GTA V became a grueling shoot for the actor behind Michael. Ned Luke's candid commentary provides fans with a greater appreciation for the effort involved in even the most surprising scenes. And for most, it provides yet another reason not to replay that yoga mission again.Also Read: Rockstar removes PS Plus requirement for GTA Online on PS4 & PS5