Hugh Jackman Joins EDDIE THE EAGLE Biopic as Ski Expert; Gary Barlow to Pen Score

According to the Daily Mail, 'Greatest Showman on Earth' Hugh Jackman will portray ski expert 'Chuck Berghorn' in EDDIE THE EAGLE, an upcoming biopic on the UK's first ski jumper to enter the Winter Olympics in 1988. Dexter Fletcher directs.

Jackman will appear alongside Taron Egerton in the title role of 'Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards'. Jackman's Berghorn is described as "a ski expert from Lake Placid who helped the down-on-his-luck sportsman train for the Calgary Games." Timothy Spall is under consideration to play Eddie's father.

FINDING NEVERLAND composer Gary Barlow is also set to write songs for the film, with filming aiming to start this spring.

Jackman stars in the upcoming movie musical THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH, based on the life of PT Barnum and set for release on Christmas Day 2016.

Currently starring in Broadway's THE RIVER, the Academy Award nominated, Golden Globe and Tony Award winning actor, made his first major U.S. film appearance as Wolverine in the first installment of the X-MEN series, a role he reprised in several sequels and prequels. Jackman's other feature film credits include PRISONERS, LES MISERABLES, RISE OF THE GUARDIANS, REAL STEEL, AUSTRALIA, THE FOUNTAIN, THE PRESTIGE, KATE AND LEOPOLD and more.

The actor appeared on Broadway in HUGH JACKMAN - BACK ON BROADWAY in the fall of 2011. Additional credits include A STEADY RAIN in 2009 and THE BOY FROM OZ, for which Jackman received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical as well as Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards. Jackman's continued dedication to the Broadway community was feted at the 2012 Tony Awards, where he received a Special Tony Award.