Steve Coogan is Eddie the Eagle

[DB7]

Steve Coogan is Eddie the Eagle
Source: Variety
August 8, 2007

John Heyman's movie about hapless British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle will go into production in January, with Steve Coogan in the lead and Declan Lowney directing.

Heyman is producing the film with Rupert Maconick. The script is by Sean Macaulay from an original draft by Simon Kelton.

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards became a media sensation when he entered the 1988 Winter Olympics as the first representative from Great Britain in the Olympic category and came in last in both ski jump events.

"His story is a very British story, and he is a very British kind of hero," Coogan said. "When I read the story, I found it funny but, more surprisingly, quite moving. Quirky, dysfunctional, slightly nerdy, but his balls must be made of titanium."

[Tony Pendrey]

No, I once met the bloke. It was his head that was made of something solid.

At the time he was at the height of his "fame" and had a number of "agents" working to ensure that Eddie wouldn't have to go back to plastering. Hence, toe-tapping disco songs like "Fly Eddie Fly".

I have a sneaking suspicion that he made have opened the letter from the producers with Thistle dusty fingers.

If he finally gets to earn a few bob from it all, good luck to him.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Originally Posted by DB7 ... about hapless British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle will go into production in January, with Steve Coogan in the lead

But Steve Coogan doesn't look anything like Eddie Edwards!

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Aaryk Noctivagus But Steve Coogan doesn't look anything like Eddie Edwards!

I think there's probably a vague hope that Mr. Coogan will act

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Aaryk Noctivagus But Steve Coogan doesn't look anything like Eddie Edwards!

But Steve Coogan

doesn't look much like Alan Partridge

Paul (or Pauline) Calf

or Tommy Saxondale

either

It's called acting :)

Steve

[Dame Starry]

Originally Posted by Aaryk Noctivagus But Steve Coogan doesn't look anything like Eddie Edwards!

But, since he had facial surgery on his jaw, even Eddie doesn't look much like Eddie any more!

Did he get his Law Degree, I wonder?

Starry x.

[batman]

He doesn't look like Tony Wilson either ... but Coogan was IMHO pretty good in '24 Hour Party People'. According to an internet biography Eddie nows works as 'a builder' in Stroud. I hope he makes a lot of money from the film 'cos he is a true character.

Bats.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook It's called acting :)

What I'm talking about is called physical features

Eddie Edwards has a particular look... no amount of makeup can help Steve Coogan to look anything like him.

The only casting choice I can think of is Dana Carvey if he could manage the accent.



Not perfect by any means, but at least he looks goofy and geekish enough.

[batman]

I get where you are coming from Aaryk, but I think Coogan might do OK as Eddie Edwards. Alfred Molina looks nothing like Tony Hancock but his performance as 'The Lad Himself' was masterful. I think they would have trouble casting anyone who remotely resembles Eddie .... except maybe football pundit Jimmy Hill!




Jimmy Hill and Eddie Edwards


Bats.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Ooo yes, Jimmy Hill would be great... if he could act.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Aaryk Noctivagus What I'm talking about is called physical features Eddie Edwards has a particular look... no amount of makeup can help Steve Coogan to look anything like him.

How do you know that Coogan can't do it? Looking at him, would you have thought he could have transformed into Alan Partridge, or Paul Calf? Both of those are quite complete physical transformations. Not just the facial appearance and the accent but the way they stand and walk is totally different to each other and to Coogan himself.

If the other parts of the characterisation are convincing enough you don't realise that he's not an exact likeness in the face.

Steve

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook How do you know that Coogan can't do it?

Because he always looks like Steve Coogan.

Anyhoo, lets wait to see the movie and then judge how well it is done.

[christoph404]

I don't think it would be that hard to look like Eddie The Eagle, the haircut, those large aviatar style spectacles and a funny little moustache, almost a distinctive a look as Groucho. There is the potruding chin I guess, I think a result of his bottom teeth overlapping his top which as has been pointed out he has had fixed. And he doesn't wear those oversized specs anymore, I think Eddie himself worked quite hard on that nerdy image. So Steve Coogan as Eddie? Yes I can see that and I don't think its that critical to look exactly like a real life character you are playing on film, the actor, whose name escapes me ,who played Kenneth Williams in the recent TV film was brilliant in the part and caught the essence of the character perfectly and he didn't look especially like Williams but it was a brilliant performance, ....otherwise......think Al Pacino as Arthur Scargill in the Comic Srips "The Strike"....superb bit of casting.

[DB7]

Coogan's quite a cameleon too, Paul Calf and Partridge are poles apart, the only problem is that his screen acting is quite terrible. I caught a trailer for The Alibi on a recent rental and thought it no surprise the film went straight to dvd.

[christoph404]

Originally Posted by DB7 Coogan's quite a cameleon too, Paul Calf and Partridge are poles apart, the only problem is that his screen acting is quite terrible. I caught a trailer for The Alibi on a recent rental and thought it no surprise the film went straight to dvd.

And what about "Around The World In Eighty Days"? I thought everything about that film was dreadful including Im afraid to say, Coogan's performance. Lets hope he fairs better with the Eddie the Eagle film.