Basingstoke's Chase Armitage stuntman on Netflix The Union

Chase Armitage grew up in Basingstoke and attended John Hunt School in Popley – now Everest Community Academy – before forming the parkour group 3RUN.

He has since forged an incredible Hollywood career as a stuntman shooting films around the world including his latest for Netflix called The Union, starring Wahlberg and Halle Berry, which was released on Friday, August 16.

READ MORE: Basingstoke freerunner Chase Armitage re-creates bowling alley stunt

Mark and Chase (Image: Chase Armitage) The 39-year-old has been working as Wahlberg’s personal stunt double for his last seven films and in an incredible coincidence ended up working with fellow 3RUN member and best friend Adam Bradshaw, who is also from Basingstoke, for The Union in Australia.

“I feel that from quite humble beginnings we have really excelled and through our disciples of parkour and martial arts we have managed to get to the top of our games in the film making world,” he said.

Chase hopes his career will inspire the younger generation in Basingstoke, saying: “Me and Adam are at the top of the Hollywood game - two kids from Basingstoke. I want kids and people to know from Basingstoke it doesn’t matter where you start out if you work hard, you can achieve your dreams.”

Chase recalls telling a careers adviser at school he wanted to be a stuntman or racing car driver and being told these were not on the list of jobs.

“I proved them wrong,” he said, adding: “We literally came from a bunch of kids doing flips in the school sandpit. You can make anything possible.”

SEE MORE: 'The coolest crowd in town' - Talli Tigers bring Bollywood beats to Basingstoke

Taking a moment to relax onset of The Union in Croatia before a big stunt (Image: Chase Armitage) Chase, who still lives in Basingstoke with his wife Amor, began his Hollywood career in 2018 when he was shooting a commercial in India. His friend Adam got in touch with an opportunity to work as a stunt double for Wahlberg.

“I rushed back and joined the job called Infinite. I met Mark and worked for him and did some crazy stuff and he enjoyed my work and he’s brought me with him on every movie,” he said.

The taxing work requires Chase to look after his body and keep fit, particularly for his latest film The Union, an action comedy that has shot to the number one spot on Netflix following its release.

It involved Chase taking part in various stunts including jumping off a bridge in London onto a moving barge, jumping off a moving motorbike and smashing through a skylight.

Lauren Okadigbo and Chase Armitage Stunt doubles for Mark and Halle jumping from Alberts bridge in London onto a moving barge boat. From the Union Movie (Image: Chase Armitage) “It’s very hard work, it really is,” said Chase, adding: “You have to condition yourself to withstand it because you do take a beating. You’re always trying to prevent the injuries and it’s quite taxing.”

He said the cast was great to work with, including Wahlberg and Berry.

“Mark is a legend. He’s a really down-to-earth, nice guy. He’s helped me loads. I would do his 4am training – he does this 4am club so I joined him before work. He’s great to work with. And Halle was absolutely lovely, she did lots of her own action.”

His friend Adam was the fight coordinator for The Union and Chase said it felt surreal to work together.

“We grew up doing parkour with the dream of making it in the movies. We used to talk about making it in the films together and now it’s quite surreal working together,” he said.

Chase Armitage and Adam Brashaw from the Basingstoke parkour team 3RUN working alongside Mark Wahlberg in the new Netflix film the Union (Image: Chase Armitage) Chase has a packed schedule for the future with more films to shoot and has hopes of one day moving into directing.

However, he plans to continue his stunt career for now, saying: “I look after myself and I believe you can extend this career. I know people in their 50s still performing.”

Chase said his family are incredibly proud of his achievements, explaining: “They all acknowledge and give us praise for what we do. It’s exciting because it’s blown up and the way my 3RUN crew think, we’re just getting started.”