Jesse Metcalfe Says He ‘Wasn’t Eating,’ ‘Working Out 3 Times a Day’ for John Tucker Must Die

Jesse Metcalfe recalls the “pressure” he felt while filming John Tucker must die.

“You guys have no idea,” he said during a panel onstage at Epic Cons Chicago on Sunday alongside Sophia Bush and Arielle Kebbel, two of his co-stars in the 2006 teen comedy classic.

“I didn’t eat and I worked out three times a day,” revealed Metcalfe, 45, who recalled that I was in the gym “anytime I wasn’t on set.”

Playing teenage womanizer John Tucker involved “working out and eating salmon every night,” the star continued. “I took it pretty seriously.”

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After his successful role with Eva Longoria in HousewivesMetcalfe first appeared on the big screen John Tucker must diea loose adaptation of William Shakespeare The Merry Wives of Windsor from director Betty Thomas and writer Jeff Lowell. Bush, Kebbel, Ashanti and Brittany Snow played the love interests of high school jock John, teaming up to get murderous revenge on him.

(Left-right:) Sophia Bush; Jesse Metcalfe; Arielle Kebbel.

Gotham/WireImage; Paul Archuleta/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Metcalfe admitted that he “had a lot of anxiety” about being the lead actor in his first major project, which motivated his diet and exercise habits during filming. It was a lot of pressure, he said.

Bush, 41, and Kebbel, 39, agreed that the film set “was rough in terms of body image” for all the actors involved.

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For Metcalfe, playing John also meant gaining the confidence to deliver the film’s funniest scenes. “I had a complex about whether I could do comedy,” he said, reflecting on some of his most challenging – but fun – moments on set.

“Running around in women’s underwear in front of the whole team and about 40 extras was humbling to say the least,” he joked of his character who was convinced he was wearing a lace thong – and it became a fashion trend among the school’s basketball team.

“Another one of my favorite scenes,” the On the lap and prayer added the actor, “climbing the building in a towel, dropped the towel and settled on the bed” in said underwear. “And the women’s volleyball coach came in and grabbed me by the ear, pulled me into the hallway — incredible. It was a hilarious scene… but also terrifying.”

He added: “There are a lot of iconic scenes in John Tucker, that’s for sure.”

Jesse Metcalfe in “John Tucker Must Die”.

20thCentFox/Courtesy of Everett Collection

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Almost 18 years after release John Tucker must die, Bush, Kebbel and Metcalfe also revealed at Epic Cons Chicago that a sequel is in the works. “There’s a script,” said Metcalfe, who added he hasn’t read it yet. “It’s supposed to be amazing… I’d definitely love to be a part of it.”

Kebbel confirmed that the sequel “includes the entire OG cast,” and that the titular character “may or may not get a chance to change” his ways, “which would be very exciting.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Metcalfe added. “I can’t wait to unleash this father on the big screen.”

Speaking to PEOPLE last year, the actor reflected on a potential sequel. “I always thought it was a good way John Tucker must die revival would be if the entire cast was younger. And then I play John Tucker’s character’s uncle, who has grown up to be a bit of a loser.”

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