Hugh Jackman is to star in a film about Olympian Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards.
The 46-year-old Australian will play Chuck Berghorn, a ski expert from Lake Placid who helped Eddie to prepare for the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, where he became an unlikely hero after coming last in his two ski-jumping events.
Meanwhile, Taron Egerton has been cast in the role of Eddie, having overcome competition from the likes of George MacKay, Jamie Bell and Daniel Kaluuya, all of whom were considered for the part.
However, Egerton secured the role after performing a ”magical” screen-test opposite Jackman, according to the Daily Mail newspaper.
The screen-test was shot in New York, where Jackman has been starring in the Broadway production of ‘The River’.
Director Dexter Fletcher and producer Matthew Vaughn – who hope to begin filming in the spring – would like ‘Mr Turner’ star Timothy Spall to portray Eddie’s father in the movie.
What’s more, it’s been speculated that some scenes from the film will be shot in Cheltenham, England, where Eddie was raised, while Take That’s Gary Barlow has been lined up to write songs for the movie.
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Hugh Jackman ‘set to star in Eddie The Eagle film’
Australian actor Hugh Jackman is set to star in a film about Olympian Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards.