20th Century Fox has released the first international Eddie the Eagle trailer. The story focuses on Michael Edwards (Taron Egerton), an unlikely folk hero of sorts who became the United Kingdom’s first Olympic ski jumper and found fame and adoration despite finishing last in the 70-meter and 90-meter jumps at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Hugh Jackman and Christopher Walken also star.
This first trailer absolutely nails the tone of director Dexter Fletcher's sports drama, one which will elicit quite a few references to the 1993 feel-good classic, Cool Runnings. As becomes apparent very early on in this trailer, Edwards was not admired for his innate athletic ability, but rather his dogged pursuit of a dream: to participate in the Winter Olympics as a ski jumper. While this underdog story could easily have been played straight, I love that Fletcher and company are taking a more humorous angle on Edwards, with Jackman playing the hard-drinking, "disgraceful" (and fictional) coach, Bronson Peary. He's one part John Candy's Irv, and one part Rip Torn's Patches O'Houlihan. That description alone would make the flick worth keeping an eye on, but Egerton's wonderfully awkward athleticism and unwavering determination gives Eddie the Eagle potential to surprise.
Check out the trailer below. Eddie the Eagle opens February 26, 2016.
Here's the film's official synopsis:
The story of Great Britain's first ski jumper to enter the Winter Olympics, starring Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman & Christopher Walken.
