Actor's runaway chariot scare on Exodus set

Joel Edgerton, left, as pharaoh-to-be Ramses, and Christian Bale as Moses in a scene from Exodus: Gods and Kings. Photo / AP

Australian actor Joel Edgerton was left terrified on the set of new movie Exodus: Gods and Kings when he found himself stuck on a runaway chariot.

The star plays Egyptian pharoah Ramses opposite Christian Bale as Moses in Sir Ridley Scott's latest epic, and was required to shoot a scene while riding on a horse-drawn trailer.

However, disaster nearly struck when the reins broke and the steeds galloped along at breakneck speed, but shaken Edgerton was reassured by the director's calm reaction in a crisis.

A scene from Exodus: Gods and Kings starring Joel Edgerton and Christian Bale. Photo / AP

"I was caught on a runaway chariot one day, and I was s***ing myself. One of the reins broke and that took all control of the horses out of our hands," he told British newspaper The Guardian.

He says they were on an old freeway with camera equipment and cranes, to shoot the epic film.

"And I'm thinking: 'Oh s***, Joel's on a f***in' runaway chariot!'

"And one of the horses reared up after a bit and it all slowed down finally, but y'know, it was pretty terrifying there for a moment or two."

Joel Edgerton in a scene from Exodus: Gods and Kings. Photo / AP

He says once it was all fine, Scott walked over.

"Now a normal director would be all, 'Are you all right?'

"Ridley just comes over, sniffs the air and says: 'Do I smell s*** around here?' Like I'd just soiled my pants! No soft landing with Ridley!"

* Exodus: Gods and Kings is out in NZ cinemas January 1.

- WENN