At a Glance
- Johnny Knoxville says he cannot risk another concussion while filming Jackass 5
- Doctors warned him after 2022 bull-stunt brain injury on Jackass Forever
- The 54-year-old co-creator will still prank but avoids head hits
- Why it matters: Fans will see a safer Knoxville as the franchise returns June 26
Johnny Knoxville is returning for Jackass 5, but the 54-year-old stunt legend has drawn a hard line at anything that could jolt his brain. In a recent Syndicate X Library video interview, Knoxville explained the medical restriction that now shapes his on-screen antics.
Knoxville’s New Limit
“I can’t do anything where I can get another concussion,” Knoxville told interviewer. He added that he’s “way over my limit for concussions,” a tally that climbed after a bull rammed him during Jackass Forever filming. The impact left him with diagnosed brain damage and a neurologist’s order: “cannot take any more hits to the head.”
The fifth Paramount Pictures installment lands in theaters June 26. Knoxville announced the date on Instagram Jan. 7, posting franchise logo art and the caption: “Well a wang dang and hot damn doodle, we are starting the year off with a bang … this summer Jackass is back!!”
What He Will-and Won’t-Do
Knoxville remains fearless about every other body part.
- Slapstick stunts: “I don’t care about anything else”
- Pranks: “pure hell for the cast, but they’re a lot of fun for me”
- Head shots: strictly off-limits
“A lot of other guys” in the cast can absorb concussions, he noted, allowing the franchise to keep its signature mayhem while he steers clear of cranial impacts.
The 2022 Injury That Changed Everything
During Jackasss Forever production, Knoxville stood in a bullring as part of a gag. The animal charged, tossed him, and left him unconscious. In a later Howard Stern interview he revealed the long-term fallout: brain damage confirmed by imaging and cognitive tests. The medical team delivered an unequivocal verdict-no more head trauma.
Cast and Timeline
Original members Steve-O, Dave England, Wee Man, Chris Pontius and Preston Lacy reunited with Knoxville for the new film. The group first debuted on MTV in 2000 and last appeared together in 2022’s Jackass Forever.
Upcoming Projects
Beyond Jackass 5, Knoxville hosts Fox’s revived Fear Factor: House of Fear, which premiered Jan. 14. He also stars in Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex, set to bow at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. In November he married costume designer Emily Ting.
Key Takeaways
- Knoxville’s doctors have medically disqualified him from head-impact stunts
- Jackass 5 will still feature his prank DNA, just without the concussions
- The film’s June 26 release keeps the franchise on its every-few-years rhythm
- Fans can expect the same chaos-just with a helmet-free Knoxville calling the shots instead of taking the hits
