“Shooter” will make its long-awaited debut on USA Network tonight, and star Ryan Phillippe is ready and able to back up his onscreen role as expert sniper Bob Lee Swagger.
Speaking with TheWrap, Phillippe said he was a better-than-expected marksman while training for the role.
“I’m there with three Marine snipers, which can be a little intimidating,” Phillippe said. “But in all truth and honesty, and this can be backed up by many sources, on my second shot at 900 yards I hit a 12-inch steel target and the Marines kind of didn’t know what to say.”
For those doing the math at home, 900 yards is just over half a mile. Meanwhile, some of us can’t throw a crumpled up ball of paper into a trash can from across the room.
In the series, which is based on the Mark Wahlberg movie of the same name and the Stephen Hunter novel series, Swagger is recruited to thwart an assassination attempt on the U.S. President by another sniper who wounded Swagger in combat and killed his friend and spotter.
The series premiere has been pushed back twice following police shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Phillippe believes, however, that the new premiere date will benefit the series.
“It was the right choice to make the move,” he said. “I was very much behind the network’s decision…I think now coming out after the election–there’s been a lot of noise these last few months. So I think we’re premiering in the right spot and we’re going to provide some high octane entertainment for the people who tune in.”
“Shooter” airs tonight at 10 p.m./9c on USA Network.