Actor Chris Hemsworth has faced one of his most unexpected challenges to date playing drums live on stage with Ed Sheeran for 70,000 people. Captured in the upcoming docuseries ‘Limitless: Live Better Now,’ the moment represents a big accomplishment in Hemsworth’s quest to go beyond his mental and physical limits.
Chris Hemsworth learns drums for Limitless: Live Better Now
The performance took place at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania, during Sheeran’s stadium tour. Hemsworth, who had no prior musical experience, took up drumming as part of a cognitive challenge in the new season of ‘Limitless,’ which premieres on August 15 on OTT platforms, and airs on National Geographic on August 25.The three-part series explores Hemsworth’s efforts to improve mental and physical wellness by stepping outside his comfort zone. Learning a new skill like drumming was chosen to boost memory, focus, and brain health.
Ed Sheeran challenges Chris Hemsworth to perform live
According to the show’s trailer, Sheeran encouraged Hemsworth to learn drums and join him on stage. The actor accepted the challenge and trained rigorously with Ben Gordon, drummer of Parkway Drive. The trailer reveals Hemsworth’s initial struggles and Sheeran’s honest feedback, calling it “possibly the most difficult thing” Hemsworth would ever do.During the concert, Sheeran surprised the audience by announcing, “Please make some noise for Chris Hemsworth.” The crowd erupted as Hemsworth kept steady time on Thinking Out Loud, Sheeran’s hit single.
Chris Hemsworth receives award for drumming excellence
After the performance, Sheeran presented Hemsworth with a humorous ‘Participation Award for Drumming Excellence’, shaped like a hand holding drumsticks. The two shared a hug backstage, celebrating the actor’s achievement.Their friendship goes beyond the stage. In 2023, Hemsworth gifted Sheeran his iconic Mjölnir hammer from ‘Thor,’ while Sheeran gave him a guitar in return calling it an “instrumental trade-off between two blokes.”
Limitless: Live Better Now explores resilience and risk
The new season of Limitless also features Hemsworth climbing a 600-foot Alpine dam in Switzerland and undergoing Special Forces training in South Korea, including exposure to pepper spray and electrocution. Each episode focuses on a different theme—Brain Power, Risk, and Pain—with expert guidance from neuroscientists, athletes, and wellness professionals.Hemsworth shared in the trailer, “The key to unlocking these benefits is finding the edge of our comfort zone.”
