Ever wondered what happened to national treasure Eddie ‘the Eagle' Edwards, the British ski-jumper who competed in the 1988 Calgary Olympics? We could be just about to find out if reports surrounding the script of a new film charting Eddie's unlikely rise to fame are correct.
Eddie was working as a plasterer in Gloucestershire when he somehow managed to get himself into the Olympic line-up, famously finishing in last place in both his events. His plucky ‘why not' attitude and loveable persona earned him a place however in our affections and his hilarious media appearances made him a firm media favourite: “ I realised two years before the Olympics that I might be able to get to Calgary because no one else was going to apply and so started training. I got a lot of advice from Austrian and French ski-jumping coaches, but because I can't speak French or German, a lot of it went over my head."
The script for the film was originally penned in 2007 with Steve Coogan lined up to play the title role but sources now suggest it will be Rupert Grint (better known to you and I as Ron Weasley from Harry Potter) who is poised to start filming next month.
All this begs the question who will take on the role Eddie's ski-jumping body double – perhaps Graham Bell might be getting a call?
Source: The Guardian
