Eddie the Eagle stars Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman have joked that making the film about the ski jumper was just as gruelling as The Revenant -- but they're not going on about it.
"Unlike Leo, I was just in a shirt. He was wussing out with all the furs and everything," a mischievous Jackman told me.
"We haven't gone on about it constantly, but it was cold in Germany too, come on guys," added Egerton, who plays the titular Eddie.
The true story of the British ski jumper at the Winter Olympics who didn't win a thing, but certainly won over the crowd, is definitely nothing like The Revenant, but rather firmly in the family-friendly domain.
I sat down recently with Egerton and Jackman to discuss the film, Eddie himself and his remarkable, inspiring true story.
I couldn't name a single medallist from any Winter Games, except for Eddie the Eagle. He was huge in New Zealand, how about Australia?Jackman: He was huge in Australia, although he wasn't a medallist. But I remember it really well; he was the most famous guy from that Olympics. Even to this day, if you're doing something kind of crazy, people will say 'Who do you think you are, Eddie the Eagle'?
And when did you first hear the story of Eddie the Eagle, Taron?Egerton: When our producer called me about this film. I think it's something I was dimly aware of in the back of my mind. I thought it was Evel Knievel, though, I got confused.
What do you think it is about the story of Eddie and his story that connects with so many people?Egerton: I think it was his disregard for his own wellbeing that people find charming and endearing. He knew he wasn't the best ski jumper in the world, but he played the system and got there. Jackman: No one could put him off, even though pretty much everyone tried to. The real story, which you see in the movie, there were petitions signed against him by athletes, he encountered a lot of resistance. But he was someone who genuinely loved the Olympics, loved competing, loved ski jumping -- he still ski jumps today. He jumped a 90m about a month ago for charity. I think people connect when they see this story of no matter how crazy, silly or outrageous your dreams are, don't let anyone stop you. Just go for it!
Hugh your character is fictional, why was it important to have him as part of the story?Egerton: Otherwise Eddie is walking around in the snow on his own for an hour-and-a-half, falling over a lot and not saying very much! Jackman: I think the writer, smartly, thought we couldn't have eight different people who came in and out of his life in a week. For the audience, they need someone to find out why, to tell him he's silly and all those things the audience are feeling. As well as bringing into this the idea of friendship, what real friendship can do and how it can bring out the best. Part of it is fictionalised, but the essence of the story is there.
I heard you watched the film recently with Eddie himself, how was that?Egerton: Completely terrifying. I didn't know he was actually going to be there. I'd been staying with family in Wales, it's about a five hour journey drive to the screening room, and there he was sat there. I was quite hungover so the whole experience was rather daunting. But thankfully he completely loved it, got quite emotional and has been helping us promote the film since. Jackman: I think his family and people who knew him were always really proud of him. When he was famous, there was an element of people thinking he was a bit of a prankster or a bit of a joke. But when you see the movie, it's inspiring. For me as a parent, I certainly love being in a movie like this that my kids can see, with the message of: you don't have to win to be a winner.
The fashion of the '80s must have also been a reason you signed up?Egerton: Yeah those skin-tight lycra numbers were very good for my bottom.
What were some of the difficulties in shooting in the conditions you had to for a ski jumping movie?Egerton: It was very much like The Revenant. Leo [DiCaprio] and Tom [Hardy] had a very tough time in the cold and it was the same for us -- exactly the same experience. People have drawn that comparison. Jackman: Yeah but unlike Leo, I was just in a shirt. He was wussing out with all the furs and everything. Egerton: We haven't gone on about it constantly, but it was cold in Germany too, come on guys. Jackman: To be honest, we had an absolute blast. For me as the trainer, especially, because I didn't have to do the actual training. It was nice. Egerton: It's always hard work making a movie, especially in snow. But it was such a joy, the whole thing, we had a complete blast from start to finish.
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Eddie the Eagle opened in New Zealand cinemas this week.
Newshub.
