The Eagle has landed. "Eddie the Eagle" stars Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton dropped into town today, and they landed on a SoBe rooftop where they talked to Deco. They’re telling us how terrifying it felt to perch atop a 90-foot ski jump to make the movie.
Taron Egerton (as Eddie Edwards): "For as long as I can remember, it has been my ambition to become Olympian."
Eddie Edwards was a sickly English kid who grew up believing he could fly.
Taron Egerton (as Eddie Edwards): "I’m gonna be a ski jumper."
Jo Hartley (as Janette Edwards): "He’s gonna break his neck."
Taron Egerton plays the real-life 1980s unlikely but determined Olympic ski jumper in "Eddie the Eagle," and Hugh Jackman is his initially reluctant coach.
Hugh Jackman (as Bronson Peary): "The time to start jumping is when you’re 5 or 6."
The stars told Deco they are thrilled to be out of the cold in Miami today.
Taron Egerton: "What a beautiful view of the world."
Hugh Jackman: "It is kind of miraculous, Miami, particularly when you’ve been in Toronto and New York and Chicago — all snowing."
An unlikely pair in the movie, they’re buds now.
Taron Egerton: "No, we don’t talk off camera."
Hugh Jackman: "No, but we’re on camera, so yeah, absolutely."
Taron Egerton: "Yeah, great guy, great guy. Put it there!"
Hugh Jackman: "It’s chemistry. We just have it."
Taron Egerton: "Yeah, yeah."
Hugh Jackman: (laughs) "I had as much fun on this film as any I’ve done."
They admit the jump seat was terrifying.
Taron Egerton: "We were being very well-adapted and had a sort of small, small cable holding us in place (laughs), but everything that’s filmed at the top of the ski jumps is at the top of the ski jumps."
Hugh Jackman: "It’s a very steep drop, and you just imagine, it’s easy to get a little bit of vertigo up there. When you’re up there watching those guys go, it’s astonishing what they do, and they make it look so easy."
Thankfully, the actors didn’t have to jump for the movie.
Taron Egerton: "I mean we — you wanted to do it, didn’t you? But the Gods of insurance would not let you go anywhere near those things."
Though stuntmen did the flying, Hugh and Taron mastered their flying stance.
Taron Egerton: "Yes, so it’s arms back, kind of. You’re clinching and crouching, hands the other way."
Soaring is all about being a hero, even in last place.
Hugh Jackman (as Bronson Peary): "As your coach, I think you’re crazy. But as your friend, fly!"
"Eddie the Eagle" opens in theaters Feb. 26.