John Tucker Must Die star Jesse Metcalfe 'wasn't eating' and 'worked out three times a day' for 2006 film - as sequel is teased

By Eve Buckland and Alesia Stanford For Dailymail.Com

Published: 12:00 EDT, 26 March 2024 | Updated: 12:11 EDT, 26 March 2024

Jesse Metcalfe has revealed his vigorous fitness regime to prepare for 2006 film John Tucker Must Die -  as a sequel to the hit film was teased.

The Desperate Housewives star, 45, who played the titular character in the teen comedy, said he 'wasn't eating' and 'working out three times a day' to get ripped for his part as the popular boy with a penchant for dating multiple students. 

Speaking at the Epic Cons panel with his co-stars Sophia Bush and Arielle Kebbel on Sunday, Metcalfe said he was 'at the gym anytime that I was not on set.'

'I was working out and eating salmon every night. I was taking it pretty darn seriously.'

Metcalfe said he felt 'pressure and anxiety' about leading his first major film with his co-stars agreeing the set 'was rough in terms of body image.'

Jesse Metcalfe has revealed his vigorous fitness regime to prepare for 2006 film John Tucker Must Die - as a sequel to the hit film was teased (pictured with Sophia Bush in the film) 

Speaking at the Epic Cons panel with his co-stars Sophia Bush and Arielle Kebbel on Sunday, Metcalfe said he was 'at the gym anytime that I was not on set' 

He added: 'I had a complex about if I could pull off the comedy.

Referring to a memorable scene in which John wears a thong to seduce his love interest Kate, he said: 'Running around in women's underwear in front of the entire cast and about 40 extras was humbling, to say the least'

'Another one of my favorite scenes was scaling the building in a towel and dropping the towel and setting myself up on the bed.

'And the women's volleyball coach comes in and grabs me by the ear, pulls me into the hallway â€Â" amazing. That was a hilarious scene… but also one that was terrifying.

'There’s a lot of iconic scenes in John Tucker, that's for sure.'

Nearly 20 years after they made the revenge comedy the cast said they are up for the challenge of a sequel.

Bush, 41, who is dating soccer star Ashlyn Harris, helped break the news over the weekend with her former costars.

'I've heard rumors of this script â€Â" there's a script,' Metcalfe revealed during their panel, according to People. 'Apparently it's amazing.'

Metcalfe starred as the high school Lothario. Bush, Ashanti and Kebbel starred as his ex-girlfriends who convince new girl Brittany Snow to get him to fall for her and then break his heart

Referring to a memorable scene in which John wears a thong to seduce his love interest Kate, he said: 'Running a round in women's underwear in front of the entire cast and about 40 extras was humbling, to say the least'

The star shot to fame as teen gardener John Rowland in Desperate Housewives in 2004 (pictured with Eva Longoria)

'I'd definitely love to be a part of it,' the Divine Influencer actor said. 'Can't wait to read it.'

Kebbel, 39, who is involved in the sequel, offered more insight by revealing that the new project 'does involve all of the OG cast.'

The title character, 'may or may not get a chance to change' his ways, which, she said, 'would be very exciting.'

'Do I get a chance to wear a thong again?' Metcalfe coyly asked during the panel.

Kebbel didn't miss a beat when she answered, 'We wanted to talk to you about that.'

'We were thinking you'd actually, li ke, make your own brand, endorse it. It'd be a whole thing,' she joked.

The Desperate Housewives alumna kept up the banter, declaring, 'I'm here for it. I can't wait to unleash this dad bod on the big screen.'

The old friends shares snaps from their visit to the windy city on social media.

All three were dressed in John Tucker Must Die sweatshirts graphics of the title character and the women he scorned. 

'Countdown is on...' Kebbel wrote on the photo, adding the hashtag #jtmdreunion,

Metcalfe had kind words for his future tormenters.

'The John Tucker Must Die (partial) Reunion didn’t disappoint! Such a pleasure reconnecting with these two lovely ladies,' he wrote. 

 In the 2006 comedy, three ex-girlfriends †" played by Kebbel, Bush and Ashanti â€Â" set up the title character, a serial cheater, to fall for the new girl in town, played by Brittany Snow, so they can show him how it feels to have his heart broken.

In spite of lackluster reviews, the romcom made nearly $70 million worldwide at the box office and has become a cult classic.