The biggest unkept secret at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival was that 20th Century Fox’s Eddie the Eagle would be the secret, or “townie” screening for the residents of Park City, Utah on Tuesday night. Eddie’s unofficial world premiere at America’s premier independent film event was more or less announced when stars Hugh Jackman and Taron Edgerton popped up all over the city’s infamous Main St. for press interviews.
The duo made quite a splash introducing the movie – Jackman coaxed the audience to engage in a round of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,” – but it was the (mostly) true story of Eddie Edwards that likely stuck with them the most.
Edwards made history at the 1988 Calgary Olympics as the first British ski jumper to participate in a Winter Games in over 60 years. He became a global celebrity after landing jumps in two different competitions during those games and earning the nickname “Eddie the Eagle.”
More importantly, he gave hope to millions that no matter what your background or upbringing if you worked hard enough and persevered enough you too could become an Olympian. Remarkably, the Dexter Fletcher directed biopic not only respects his legacy, but also finds a way to avoid mocking the quirky Edwards (wonderfully portrayed by Edgerton) himself.
Continue reading at The Telegraph.