By Mark Pollard | Published March 23, 2009

Mark Hicks, a veteran stuntman who came to fame online as “Afro Ninja” due to a leaked audition tape depicting a failed backflip while wielding nunchaku, was recently interviewed by Ben Hoffman for infoMania, a half-hour satirical news show airing on the internet at Current TV. The reason being to promote his new movie, AFRO NINJA: DESTINY, a low-budget urban actioner that intentionally exploits that 15 seconds of fame. It’s the kind of fame that many actors and stuntmen would love to have, embarrassing or not.

As it stands, the original “Afro Ninja” clip has been viewed more than 9 million times on Youtube alone, making it easily one of the most popular viral videos in existence. That popularity continues with this interview of Hicks being recently featured on Digg.com and Funny or Die.

In the interview which appears to be mildly mocking the stuntman as part of the show’s satirical slant, Hicks explains that he actually nailed the maneuver a second time and ended up landing the job he was auditioning for, a fact he had made known in past interviews.

Hicks also states that he was initially angry after he discovered that the taped goof had been leaked and was being used as national comedy fodder for Jay Leno when it was aired on his show. But when asked if he could go back in time to keep the original video from being leaked, Hicks replied, “No, I’d leave it the way it is.”

In the film Hicks plays an afro-wearing postal worker depicted in the Youtube video who turns into a real martial arts-fighting hero when possessed by the spirit of a dead warrior. He uses his new fighting skills to defend his neighborhood from corrupt officials.

AFRO NINJA: DESTINY is now available on DVD from Vivendi Entertainment.

Related Topics:
Afro Ninja: Destiny (2009)  •  Mark Hicks  •  Videos