L.A. Times - Gerard Butler shows clip of near-death experience on 'Mavericks'

Gerard Butler shows clip of near-death experience

While Gerard Butler's new film, "Chasing Mavericks," isn't expected to make much of a splash at the box office this weekend (the latest tracking suggests it won't get to $5 million), 20th Century Fox can't fault its star for not doing his best to promote the film.

In the last week, Butler has frequented all the typical haunts: "The Daily Show," "Good Morning America," etc., to promote his film and show the actual footage of him being nailed by a massive wave at the mythic Northern California surf spot Mavericks.

According to the film's producer Brandon Hooper, Butler was held under for 45 seconds and later rushed to Stanford Medical Center. Though the 42-year-old was released 24 hours later, it took another 24 hours to get his blood pressure back to normal.

The accident came days after Butler and Hooper had sat together to rewrite a scene in the film that centers on the panic one feels when dragged underwater by a tremendous wave.

"It was spooky," said Hooper. "Everything we talked about happened to Gerry. It was really life imitating art."

The accident, according to Hooper, had a profound effect on the actor at the time, who called Hooper while he was in Scotland during the Christmas holiday.

"He said, 'This changed my life.' It was the closest he's ever come to death."

Check out the massive wave that knocked Butler under.