Why Johnny Knoxville Is Retiring From 'Jackass' Stunts

Johnny Knoxville has revealed he's retiring from performing stunts for his long-running Jackass franchise, following a series of injuries.

The 50-year-old screen star is set to be seen taking on more pranks and stunts in the upcoming film Jackass 4—and the Tennessee native has assured the outing be his last in that arena.

"You can only take so many chances before something irreversible happens," he told GQ in a new interview. "I feel like I've been extremely lucky to take the chances I've taken and still be walking around."

Knoxville and his co-stars shot to fame on Jackass when it debuted on MTV in 2000, before heading to the silver screen with 2002's Jackass: The Movie.

Over the years, he has endured a laundry list of gruelling injuries through his work, including concussions, broken bones, and chipped teeth.

As such, he was doubtful that a fourth Jackass movie would ever be made—a feeling only further exacerbated when he suffered four concussions while shooting the 2018 film Action Point.

"I knew that my stunt career was winding down after that film," he said. "I didn't feel it. I didn't feel the need or the desire. It's a real emotional thing."

Cementing Knoxville's feeling that another Jackass movie would be a bad idea was the fact that co-star Steve-O was also hesitant.

"I honestly thought the ship had long since sailed, and I was kind of okay with that," said Steve-O. "Every movie that we ever made was the f***ing last one. And not just the last one, but declared as the last one."

Despite this, production on the fourth Jackass movie went ahead, though doubts continued to linger in the minds of the stars, who were embraced by fans for their seemingly fearless daredevil antics.

Steve-O said: "I thought going into Jackass 4, after everything we've been through, and everything we've built, all it takes is one stupid f***ing accident to just erase it.

"Just turn it all into a negative. To be like, 'Oh, these f***ing dumb a**holes. What did you f***ing expect?' But we went ahead and f***ing did it."

Their fears were proven right when, toward the end of production, Knoxville performed one last stunt with a bull.

The result? He was left with a hemorrhage on his brain, concussion, and a broken rib and wrist.

Despite this, he still looks back on his stunt days fondly, telling GQ: "It wasn't hard. Because I honestly enjoyed it."

Jackass 4 will see most of the original cast reunite, though Bam Margera will not be among the line-up after parting ways with the franchise.

Another cast member, Ryan Dunn, died in June 2011 in a single-vehicle car accident in West Goshen, Pennsylvania.

His passenger Zachary Hartwell—who worked as a production assistant on Jackass Number Two—was also killed in the crash.

Knoxville and Steve-O will be seen in Jackass 4 alongside regulars Jason "Wee Man" Acuña, Dave England, Preston Lacy, Ehren McGhehey, and Chris Pontius.

The stunt collective's most recent cinematic release, Jackass 3D, earned an impressive $50 million on its opening weekend in October 2010.

Jackass 4 is set to be released on October 22.