Hugh Jackman Set For Eddie The Eagle Film

    There are some news stories that simply make you stop and say, “wait... WHAT?” The idea of Hugh Jackman appearing in a film about Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards is one of those.But it’s apparently true, with Kingsman: The Secret Service’s Taron Egerton reportedly set to strap the skis on to star as possibly the most famous wannabe Olympian of the 1980s.This comes from The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, not a man known for making such things up, even as we needed eyebrow surgery to correct the arch that appeared.

   And the idea of an Eddie The Eagle film has been in the works for years – the last time we heard anything of it, Father Ted’s Declan Lowney was attached to direct and Steve Coogan was on to play Eddie. Now, though, it appears they’re pitching the role younger, and Dexter Fletcher will be calling the shots. Edwards, in case the name doesn't ring any Ski Sunday cowbells, was the first person ever to represent the UK in the ski jump - at the Olympics in Calgary in 1988. Ranked 55th in the world, Edwards was completely self-funded (he worked as a plasterer to make ends meet) and was the sole applicant to represent Blighty.

   Once there, his weight (nine pounds more than the next contestant), lack of financial support, longsightedness  (which required him to wear glasses that frequently fogged during the competition) and fear of heights rather affected his medal chances, and he finished last in both his events. Still, his good spirits and can-do attitude won him fans around the world, leading to a brief pop career and, now, this biopic. Assuming he’s definitely aboard, Jackman would be Chuck Berghorn, a ski expert who helped him train, with Timothy Spall wanted for another key role, that of Eddie's dad. It’s supposed to be kicking off shooting in the spring, so we’ll see the Eagle can soar into cinemas at last.