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.”
