Happy Sad Confused - Taron Egerton

Episode Date: February 29, 2016

The very talented young man Taron Egerton joins Josh this week to talk about his latest film Eddie the Eagle, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and where he sees his career going in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Learn more at freedomforum.org. Hey, guys, today's episode of Happy Say I Confused is brought to you by the new comedy web series, Howard's Hot Roommate, and I can personally vouch for this one. I've checked it out, and it's all in the family. I'll explain later. But first, some questions. What if your new roommate was the woman of your dreams?

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A round of a pause for John. Congrats, John. You can check out all six episodes of Howard's Misadventures right now at meethoward.com. That's meethoward.com. Check it out. Funny stuff. Hey guys, welcome to Happy, Sad, Confused. I'm trying out dramatic pauses now, Sammy.

A pregnant pause. A pregnant pause. I am with Child on the podcast today. I'm Josh Horowitz. Welcome to my podcast. Today's edition of Happy Sack Confused welcomes the very talented young man that is Taran Edgerton. Notegerton, Edgerton. Yeah, I didn't know that.

You've worn something. I didn't just accost him Hey, Egerton Fuck you Break you No he wouldn't do that Because he's a hell of a guy That other voice you hear

Is not my alternate ego It is Sammy joining me for the intro as always Yeah we just moments ago Taryn dropped by the office And he was a Dwight He was well I didn't speak to him Yeah we were on the elevator together We were in the elevator together

And I was like okay Josh introduced me I know he just did the podcast and I'm going to do the intro for it. This is my in. This is my in. And no, it was like I wasn't even in the elevator. No, it's not that. Look, we were going without one floor.

We had literally one floor to go. There was no time. My name's short. Okay, what should I have done? Let's role play this. What should I have done? Hey, oh, real quick. Oh, my God.

I can't believe you're in here. Terran, this is Sammy. She does the intro for the podcast we just recorded. Oh, hey, that's awesome. So nice to meet you. Oh, see you later, guys. That's a human interaction, Josh. I'm not good at that.

Well, anyway, it was fine because I got to see him walk away. You also could have seen he was changing in the other room. It was a Harrison Ford Working Girl scene of him shirtless in the other room. Through the glass, you could have taken a gander at his Kingsman six-pack. Who knew? He was so hot. Because in Eddie the Eagle, it's like. Well, this is the point.

Eddie the Eagle is his new film, which I highly recommend it is a sweet, well-done, inspirational sports movie about True story about a ski jumper, a very kind of famous story over in the UK, maybe a little less so here, but in the late 80s made a go of it in terms of trying to get on the ski jump team for Great Britain, even though they didn't have a ski jump team. He plays the aforementioned Eddie the Eagle. And our favorite guy, Hugh Jackman, plays his kind of bitter rapscallion of a coach. And it was a pleasure to talk to Taryn. We had just about, I guess what, about a month ago, I caught up with Hugh and Taryn and Sundance, where they made a special appearance showing that film as kind of a surprise for the audience in Sundance, and it went over very well there.

And, yeah, it's crazy. I mean, Taryn's really only been doing this by this. I mean, film for about a year. Kingsman was his very first film starred in it, $100 million movie, made a gazillion dollars. They're doing a sequel in a couple months. And as I said to him in the podcast, it's one of these rare times where, like, I've actually

seen every movie the person has done. He's done four movies. And he's been excellent in all of them. And it's a really cool to see him. So the other two are Eddie the Eagles, the fourth, sorry, Testament of Youth, which was a smaller film, which actually was the film that Alicia Vakander came on the podcast to promote. And legend, the Tom Hardy, when he played twin gangsters. Taryn is a small part in that one, too.

So, yeah, we talk a lot about in the podcast about, like, you know, he's definitely on the younger side of guests I've had on the podcast. And usually the conversation is a little bit more reflective in terms of the choices they've made and such. But, like, it's kind of fun to talk to someone like Taryn who's kind of, like, in the middle of defining where his career goes. Like he's definitely on the rise and already is cognizant that he doesn't want to just play kind of like, as we put it, matinee idol, kind of just like, you know, good looking dudes. Like in Kingsman, he wants to play kind of weirder character things like Eddie the Eagle. I was going to say, Eddie the Eagle is not necessarily, yes? No, I was going to let you finish. No, he's just, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not the Tarant Edgerton that we know and love.

He has transformed himself. He's in the greatest ski jumping movie ever. Hugh Jackman's joined us for a special camera. I just thought I'd pop by. Say hello to my buddy Joshie. Did you guys talk about who Hugh loved more? Did you fight over it? No, no, I didn't put it that way.

I didn't want to go there. That's who knew you'd win. That's true. They get along famously as well. Everybody gets along well with Hugh. But yeah, I highly recommend that movie. By the time you listen to this, the Oscars will have come and gone. That was a hell of a night.

Oh, my God, Sammy. You were, you really were this shining star of that night. Who knew that I was going to jump on stage and do that thing I did? You were, it was gross, but it was cool. Those security guards are strong. I can believe, you're scrappy, though. Yeah, I know. When I have my eyes on the prize, you can't deter me.

Crappy. I needed to push Judy Dench down and take that Oscar. No. Is Dame going to be there? No, I just always assumed that she'll be there. No, she's actually, I don't think she is. She's not listed as a presenter. and she's not a nominee this year.

Surprise guest. James Judy Judge? No, I don't think so. So yes, Oscar. The Oscars are over. We can put that to bed, guys. And I guess next up, I don't know, we've got MTV Movie Awards coming up in a couple months.

We've got South by Southwest. I don't think I'm going to be going to be here, but keep an eye out for the films that are going to be there. I've seen some of the films that are going to be there. Films like Midnight Special. Terrible. No. I'm just kidding.

Not true. Our buddy Michael Shannon's in that and Joe Edgerton. I'm probably not about. to talk about it, but that's worth checking out. Wait, with Joel Edgerton? Yes. As opposed to Taran, yeah, a lot of Edgerton's around. Yeah, what the fuck?

It's spelled differently, too. I know. Also, Peewee's big holiday is going to be there. And I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say it, but I liked it. I liked it a lot. The trailer was so good. Yeah, it's really good. I, see you've got to see the movie.

I got to see the trailer for it on the internet. I got to spend 45 minutes with Tarant Edgerton. You got to spend eight seconds in an elevator. This is... So who's winning today, Josh? Winning at life. I sound so obnoxious. This is all...

Why do I let you on the podcast? I don't know. I don't know. It's great. You're welcome. Ugh. Anything else to talk about Taryn? I don't think there's anything else you need to know about Taryn, except that we get really geeky and movie nerdy into this.

And he was just great to shoot the shit with. And I'm really happy he came by. I wasn't sure like, oh, he's so early in his career. Maybe we won't have a lot to talk about. He's 25 or 26, so he's not like super young, but I mean, relative to me, he's super young. Let's be honest. Relative to me. Well, no, but he, despite having just a relatively small body of work, he's got a lot to say, and he's super bright and funny.

So I'm glad he came by. Where's he from? He's Welsh, i.e. from Welsh town. No, Wales. Yes. Ah, so he's from the country of Welsh. Yes, exactly. Love it, that.

Yes. But yeah, he's definitely one to watch. So look out for Eddie the Eagle, now in theaters, and check out Kingsman's sequel. We'll be out there probably next year this time, I would think. That's about all for the intro. In the meantime, you've got 45 minutes of Taran Edgerton about to start. You're so lucky, everyone. Oh, boy, guys.

This is about to start for you. No, he's great. I hope you guys enjoy this and catch you on the next one. Bye. I can't believe you were eating Fraud Diablo through. out that whole thing. No, I get Hill and Hardy, and it's, it's, oh, it's a long story. Start the podcast. Okay. Enjoy. Good to see you, buddy.

Been, been far too long. Sundance was a whole month ago? I don't know. You've been, you've been traveling around a bit, right? I don't know where the hell I am. You're in New York. I'll stop. I'll be with that. New York now. New York. Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely New York. Sounds like your voice is actually. a little fried. Are you okay? It is, man. Yeah, I spent the whole day yesterday talking about

Eddie Eagle. I did five talk shows yesterday so. I know. But it's great, you know, I'm super proud of the movie, so it's exciting to have the chance to share it with everyone. But yeah, it's a lot. Today's my last day in America, and then there'll be a whole other... Got it. A whole other stint

in Korea, China, Scandinavia, Europe, Australia. For podcast listeners, his eyes just went like dead for a second. It's a brain melted. I see things coming out of your ears. That's right. Yeah. But it's all for a good cause. As you said, it's honestly, it's a really fun movie. It's a great movie. It really works. I really do love it. So these are extremely

first world problems. So let's not spend too long moaning about it. No, I want to only talk about that. And thank you for being on the podcast. Sometimes when I have folks on, like I had Jennifer Jason Leon last week and I had to like bone up by like watching like 10 of her films over her career. But I realized I'd seen all of your films. great thank you buddy great I'm four for four yeah this is this is number four actually isn't it I think

it's been a but it's it's crazy I guess probably the first time I spoke to you along with a lot of other people in my situation was I guess just about a year ago I mean it's and it's but it feels like you've packed a lot in to that year yeah yeah so there was Kingsman and then there was what did a British movie called Testament

yeah yeah Harington and Lucy of a candor we had Alicia in for that one actually that was a piece of work. I feel like not enough people saw that one. It's a shame, not enough, not many people saw it actually, because it was a lovely film, and particularly Alyssa's performance, was fantastic. So, I did that, and then I had my little psychopathic turning legend.

A lot of psychopaths to go around. It wasn't just you. Yeah, yeah. I was in good company. You were. You're going to be a psychopath. Do it with Tom Hardy. And now, and now this delightful little number. So talk to me a little bit about, because Kingsman, I feel like that was a hell of a press store, too.

But this one, I've noticed, I feel like just following you on social media and Hugh, it seems like you've been making the rounds, like, in terms of like some cities that maybe I wouldn't even think that you would normally impress in. Has it been fun to see a different side of America? You know, I've seen, I've done the length and breadth. I've kind of, we started off in Canada, we were in Toronto. And then we did Chicago, Miami, San Francisco. And it's been amazing. These are towns that I've never been to and always wanted to go to. Yeah.

Been to San Francisco before. I love San Francisco. But it's great meeting people from, you know, all sorts of different. places and different walks of life and everyone's been super friendly and the response to the movie has been really warm which is great

because it's a very warm movie I think yeah yeah have you have you do you have a favorite city in America this far or a place that you haven't gone into that you want to? I think it's probably New York if I'm honest I think there is a big bit of me that is hungry to spend some time here I'd love to come and do a play

or I'd love to come and do a play and see how it worked out because if there's anywhere other than London, I think I could live it, it would probably be here. I always, I mean, I've talked to a lot of folks on this podcast about that I was born, raised in New York. And I feel, I feel there is that symmetry, certainly, that one to New York symmetry that I feel like if you're raised in one or, or spend time in one, that you're comfortable in the other.

It just feels like their twin cities in a weird way. I've always felt a kind of, always weirdly felt a bit of a kinship with New York. Like, growing up, my favorite band was the Strokes. And I sort of graduated from the strokes to LCD sound system. So I kind of got a bit of a love affair with New York bands, really. And nothing more romantic than doing a play or a musical or something in New York. That would be off the charts, right? Yeah.

You know, if anyone wants to offer me a play or a musical in New York, you could get in touch of my ageing because I would bite your hand off. Cats? Do you want to do cats? I'd do anything. I would do anything. I'm trying to think of the most incongruous musical. I want to test your resolve.

It's all about staying left field, man. What's the most, I mean, growing up was like, did you make trips to the states here? What was your kind of like knowledge or awareness of American film? Was it kind of like the unknown or was it something that was just also on your TV? So you kind of had a sense of it. Well, we, um, you know, we're raised on a diet of your culture. You know, we have, no, no, far from it.

You know, I watched more American movies growing up than I did British movies, you know. And America was always kind of a far off sort of distant place, really. And I remember the first time I was aware of New York, I think, was probably watching Home Alone when I was, you know, thinking, wow, that place looks cool, cool at Christmas, you know? Right. To be clear, the classic, the sequel, not the original Home Ones, who lost to New York, which was really, as everyone agrees, is the ultimate of Home Alone film, The Finner Day. Exactly, yeah. The Pistaresistant. But, yeah, and I'd always, always, always wanted to come here, but it wasn't, it was never a reality growing up.

couldn't afford to, you know, had no reason to, really. I think if, you know, as a family, if we ever went on holiday, we'd go to, I don't know, Spain or something, you know, somewhere that's rough, from my heart. Yeah, tough, right, I know. Tough, tough upbringing. And then when Kingsman happened, all of a sudden it was, I needed to come here for work, you know, so it's been great.

And I do, I really do love it here. I love, you know, I love L.A. as well. I've got lots of friends in L.A., and obviously work takes me to L.A., but I have a particular fondness for New York is a cool place. So where is home right now? Is home still back home?

So I kind of, whichever hotel I'm in. Yeah, the last couple years I would imagine, yeah. Yeah. Which is fine because I get to stay in really lovely hotels. But so I kind of travel between London and I visit my mother and my stepfather a lot in Wales. Yeah. Visit my dad in North Wales.

So yeah, kind of spent, when I have a moment, I'll go and hang out with them because I just love it. and it's out of the rat race and it's a very beautiful part of the world. Right. Yeah. Outside of Home Alone 2, Lost in New York, which is obviously the top of the film list growing up. And other McCauley Colkin films, obviously the Good Sun.

I mean, you were a big Culkin file. We know that. What were the other big films, big actors that you first came obsessed with? Well, I mean, really young films that really connected me when I was young. I mean, there was a lot of Christmas films. Muppet's Christmas Carol was a big one of me when I was sort of a little kid. labyrinth is one that was I was very young oh I know you're a big David Bowie

I'm a huge David Bowie fan yeah um uh uh dark crystal okay yes I'm out there these things can scar a child that's these yeah and they did um and obviously when like you know you get a little bit older and you know you're kind of early teens the classic Scorsese thing and

yeah I don't know film it was always it was always present but I wasn't I acting and film wasn't something that ever that really, really got its claws into me until I was in my late teens I think because I was always into

drawing and sculpting and animation is what I loved. I've all, I've got a very, oh God man, I met, it was so cool. So I was at the BAFTA's last weekend and yeah, that was just a big... No, you can do it, do it. Just slip, slip, slip that in conversation then.

Were you nominated for something? I might have been nominated for something. It's just this little rising star award. I was being. by that guy from a galaxy far far away unfortunately but it was a great weekend but I one thing that

one set of films that I've always always always loved and really has had a profound effect on me is Pixar's movies Disney Pixar movies so you know from Toy Story and everything thereafter and I was checking into my hotel for the BAFTA weekend and I was and who stood next to me was big doctor

hard to miss he's like a nine foot tall man it's like a nine foot tall man and I you know I mean that weekend I met some serious people. I met Leonardo DiCaprio that weekend. Right. Nothing came close to how Starstruck I felt meeting Pete Doctor. That's awesome. And he's the sweetest, coolest dude.

And he won, which, of course he won inside out. Genius. But, and I was chatting to him just saying how much I love his work and how much of a fan I was. And he went, well, I'll do you were drawing. And I went, no, you will not. No, you will not. And I don't know what it is, but I have received confirmation

that he sent it to my publicist. and he was true to his word and he did me a little doodle That is amazing What do we think it is? I don't know I mean I really don't know You'll take anything

You're like I'll take anything I'll take anything I'll you know If he's played noughts and crosses I'm happy So do you make your interest Know I'm like

Hey I can do voices What do you need? What do you need? I thought that might I'd be lying If I said it didn't cross my mind But I thought It might have been

Slightly too much Of a hard sell Right I am just voiced An animated character Actually for Illumination I've got a

a movie coming out, yeah, a movie coming out called Sing. Okay. And I sing in it, I play a... I was hope with that title. Yeah, I play a singing gorilla. Of course.

Called Johnny. Probably better to do that in animation than to do a live action for you. Yes, yes. I'm not particularly guerrilla-like in person, I feel. Or in voice, actually. I think their feeling was they wanted someone

who sounded kind of possibly a bit sweet and boyish in one of the biggest, most muscular characters. I can do that. Sweet and boyish. That's my thing. What kind of stuff are you singing in?

It's like original stuff, or is it? It's, they, the music budget on that movie must have been insane because they've got... They licensed some amazing things. Incredible things. I fear I would get in trouble if I told you what they were. But Seth MacFarlane is in it. Scarlett Johanson, Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey. Amazing.

John C. Riley. I mean, it, and done me, it's such a cool cast. This is one of those quintessential voiceover things where you haven't met any of those folks yet? None of them. Oh, no. Seth McFarlane and I met in L. a few weeks ago. Lovely guy.

Good voice too. Incredible voice. He plays a rat. Of course. Who I don't get almost. It's really, really, really cool. So, okay, let's see. We're jumping around a bit, but this is all very interesting.

So animation, obviously, was a big love. Was that, like, was any of this kind of serious in terms of, like, when you're growing up, like, I could actually make a go of this? I was very serious about drawing, and I was very serious about sculpting and making, creating characters. And that was what I spent my time doing. I always kind of thought, I always wanted to sort of graduate to experimenting with film,

but, you know, it just, it never happened, equipment, finding things, yeah, yeah, yeah,

it was, so it was always, it kind of got stuck at character design, really. And do you still dabble on that kind of stuff? Like, just do it all or whatever for your fun. I really,

I really don't, and it's something, it's something that I, I'm keen to return to, but now when I try and draw, I draw like quite a good 13, 14, 14 year, old because that's where you

because that's where I stopped. So I don't think I'm ever going to be brilliant, but it is something that really interests me in. But, you know, the ambition to voice a character was something that kind of remained and that residual ambition has thankfully

been satisfied this year. Yeah. Well, I'm curious, like, so you leave that kind of stuff behind when you're readily a kid or teenager. I mean, do you find it still fruitful to kind of like indulge in kind of other artistic pursuits at all, like, at this point in your life? Or is like, you know, I mean, like, is there like a respite from acting in writing or or playing with the guitar or whatever or? So I do love to sing.

I sing all the time. It's not something that I do professionally, but I occasionally take lessons. And if you get me in a karaoke bar, I mean, I'm not trying to copy up an artistic pursuit. But I guess I love to read. So what's your go-to karaoke? What's in the repertoire? George Michael Faith is my go-toam. Nice.

I actually did it on The View yesterday was Whoopi Goldberg. I did a few lines from it anyway. I know when actors say these things are impromptu, they rarely are. I did not know they were going to ask me to sing. And once you've been asked in the crowd of tune, you can't, you know. Thankfully, I didn't mess it up too badly, I don't think. Have you karaokeed with Hugh? No, but I mean, we sing a song at the end credits of the movie.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I suspect that, I think we both said we'd like to, you know, I think we'd like to do something else together. I'd love to do something on stage with him. I'd love to do a musical. Absolutely. But, you know, he's Hugh Jackman. He's very busy man.

I've heard. But I think, you know, I would really, really, really love to do a musical with you at some point if he would be up for it. So what is the ultimate musical dream, whether it's literally doing a musical or playing a musician or do you have like one or two kind of like in your mind's eye like what has manifest? There are some great Sondheim parts that I'd love to play but they were all a bit older than me

so I'd love to play Bobby and company but that's a big old thing but I'd love to do that for a little while but I think you've probably got to be you've got to be at that age in your life when all your friends are pairing off and getting married and I don't think I'm quite there yet so maybe early 30s or something.

Boyishness is coming back to haunt you now. I know I know the curse of the boyishness And then when I'm older still, I'd love to have a go at Sweeney Todd, but I mean, I'm light years away from being that grisly, I think. Do voices come naturally too? Is that something in terms of changing? Because I mean, you obviously, I mean, for people that didn't know, because Kingsman was the first time we saw you,

we kind of assumed that's just how you spoke, and that wasn't how you. That's not how you speak. No, funny voices is something that I've always kind of played around with, And it's something that I do to sort of amuse friends. And we have a WhatsApp thread, me and my kind of cool guy mates from school. And I'm always sending them little bits and bobs. So, yeah, Pete Doctor, if you're listening, don't you all right.

I'm trying to be your work. This is a glorified audition. Inside Out 2. What emotion do you want to be? Yeah. Yeah. What would I be? Thanks.

You're tired right now. I'm tired. I'm tired. Yeah. Is it true also, speaking of voices and impressions, that you did a Michael Kane that didn't make the cut for Matthew forced me to do it? It was awful. So what he, he experimented with this idea. He'll still have the footage somewhere. He's holding it over my head. He basically said, so look, I've got this idea for the credits. We might get you doing a little Michael Kane impression or it was in character, but it was a very famous Michael Kane line that was stolen. Was Michael Cain in the scene? No, no, no, no, no, no.

He made sure he was 500 yards away. Exactly. But I said to him, I said, Matt, I can't do that because you ruined my career. The more you fight against Matthew Vaughan, the more he wants it probably. Exactly, yeah. No, I did it, but then I think you realized that it probably wasn't the best idea. Well, let's talk about starting with something like Kingsman, and starting with someone like Matthew Vaughn, who is kind of like,

Yeah, I don't even know. How would you describe, having now worked with other directors and starting to get perspective on Matthew versus others, was he a particularly good filmmaker to start out with for any particular reason? Yeah, I think he was, yeah. Well, I think Matthew is a force of nature. He's a kind of one-man studio and the resources he's able to call upon and how he's able to kind of have control over something

that is so enormous, kind of single-handedly. you know he kind of make he kind of does it on his own um well he doesn't do it on his own because you know i helped him do it but you know but but he but he sort of does do it on yeah yeah um Matthew is kind of at first i think i found him very intimidating uh i don't anymore because once you get to know him you realize that he's actually someone with uh an enormous heart and he's very loyal and has um a lot of time for it for for anyone who he he works with um So, you know, in terms of comparing him to other directors, there's a question of, I just think of scale when I think of Matthew. You know, I've not done any, Eddie, obviously, which he produced, but was directed by Dexter.

It's a very, very, very different atmosphere. I mean, I love working with Matthew. I would always return to work with Matthew. Did he ever, I mean, you know, in our conversations the last year, I mean, unless you're, like, a good actor off camera as well, you seem to have a pretty good head on your shoulders. Like, did he ever have to kind of, like, put you in your place in any kind of small way on the same? set or read you the riot act and you feel like there was a moment where he had to kind of like no i think there was probably a couple of times where he had to calm me down and say you'll be okay yeah just you getting too in your own head kind of a thing yeah just sort of you know

freaking out a bit really you know i'd never made a film before and then all of a sudden you're playing the lead in a hundred million dollar movie there were a couple of moments where i was like i'm not i don't know i can do this you know um and he's always been very uh reassuring and kind of bolstering of me and always you know he's not someone who's very gushing with phrase. Right. So when you get it, it has a profound effect on you.

And he picked the right moments to say, Taryn, I put you here because I know you can do this. I would not risk this, you know? And I believe in you, and that kind of got me through. And I'm really proud of the movie we did together. I think it's great. This episode of Happy Sad I Confused

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meet strict licensure and educational requirements, and most importantly, share the belief that people and relationships are capable of growth and change. Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, eating issues, relationship problems, or anything else, therapy may be helpful for you. There is hope there are people who care. Change is possible. Find the right therapist at www.g.org. I mean, you must have contemplated, or maybe you're not the masochist I am, like, if it hadn't turned out as well as it did, both critically and commercially, starting out, again, a hundred million dollar movie with that many eyeballs on it. Most of those don't work. A lot of those don't work. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, you'd be in a different place now. I mean, you'd still have a career, and you'd still be able to make it work, and it just might be a tougher road or different roads.

Yes. But can you give me a sense of sort of, like, where your headspace was on the eve of that? Like before, like, you knew you could, like, breathe a sigh of relief. Was it a tense kind of, like, time between shooting and between release, that kind of a thing? It's a weird thing. Maybe it was naivity because I just had never made a film before. And I thought, well, Michael Cain, Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Further in it, how is it going to go badly? But I always had massive faith in it.

I really, really did. From the first time I read the script, it just felt like, well, this is new. This is cool. people are going to go wild for this and you know I'd seen all of Matthew's movies before you know the opportunity to audition for him even came up and he just has

an instinct for what for what you know popcorn cinema goes wants I think and I just did I just never thought it wouldn't work sometimes ignorance is bliss yeah exactly and you know it was and you're so in it like you probably just didn't have

the perspective look away in the way I was not I was naive because I made a film so I guess I always just thought well this is going to be great this is going to be a huge movie and then it was and actually I probably shouldn't have expected it to be but I think I just and the other thing is as well once you

spend time around Matthew you just realize that he doesn't feel like someone who's going to he doesn't leave anything to chance he's a perfectionist he's an absolute perfectionist And he hasn't made a bad movie yet.

And, you know, I don't think... Are you just saying this because you're about to work with him again in, like, a month or two? Yeah, Matthew, I don't think you're amazing. And I don't think he will because I don't, because he's too diligent. He's too hardworking. And he's making things for the right reasons. I mean, he's turned down as many amazing projects as he's generated himself. Exactly.

He just, he wants to do... And, you know, with Kingsman, I think lots of people are very surprised he's coming back to direct the sequel and it's because he loves it. It's his total baby, you know, this is the... He's created his own universe. I mean, why playing someone else's sandbox when you can do it yourself? Absolutely. He's, you know, he's created

a pretty lucrative franchise for himself and he loves the characters so he's coming back. What was the biggest audition you had had before Kingsman that you recall? And did you come close to it? Did you have like a close call or two? No, no, no.

so I think I can probably say this can I? Yes I saw it George Clooney wanted to meet me for Monuments Men Oh cool Quite early on That was probably six months before

I audition for Matthew I did a tape for a part in that Which I actually haven't seen the movie But there's a young Jewish guy in it And actually on the eve of me flying out to meet him He said look we don't want to waste your time you don't look Jewish

so did that sting at the time was that like I was heartbroken yeah I was absolutely heartbroken but you know to his credit

he didn't want to waste your time he enjoyed the tape and he didn't want to waste the time yeah but that at that moment I thought oh I'm on the cusp

of something here and then when it went I really thought oh I'm is that is that was that was that the moment and is it just passed me by

is this the party story that I'm going to be telling for 30 years Exactly, yeah. So that was a real kind of, but I then again, you know, I think as an actor you really have to, you have to learn the art of emotionally disengaging with something after you know it's not going your way. Otherwise you are going to be an unhappy person. Because I still don't get stuff now, you know. And I think that happens at no matter what level. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. If you're John Travolta, there's Tom Cruise. If you're Tom Cruise, there's Brad Pitt. It's just all. Exactly. There's that, you know, there's so many famous stories about actors being really crossed with directors they've worked within the past because they've given roles to other people. You know, and there are lots of examples in the industry of that. So you've got to learn to suck it up.

So talk to me post-Kingsman in terms of the choices that you've been able to make and, you know, in terms of these other three films. Has it felt like you are able to be a little calculated about this? Yes, yes, it has, I have to say. There have been, you know, some incredible, you know, there's been a lot of speculation about various superhero things. And these, you know, I don't mind saying they have been. real conversations you know um there's X men supposedly yeah but these are all things that in

order to if you in if you in there are kind of contractual things where if you choose to engage with things too fully then you it becomes out of your control whether you do it or not and that is I would I have felt um reluctant to peg myself down to too many big yeah grinding machines plus my feeling about Kingsman is it kind of is a superhero thing in itself so um for me what has been more important and what the joy of Eddie has been in a very dramatic way, in a very major key way, it's been my opportunity to say, well, actually, there are, there are other, there are other things I'd like to try and show the world that I can do, and there are other characters I'd like to explore. It is kind of a statement, kind of a performance that you would

choose this, this early on in your career that, like, you would, I mean, this is not a matinee idol to say the least. No, exactly. In manner, in look, in everything. I have no interest in being considered a matinee idol only. I'm very happy to be a sometimes. but I have no interest in being a full-time matinee idol because I think I'd be bored frankly and you know you read a lot of scripts as an actor where you are kind of particularly you know as a young kind of 20-something

Caucasian male there are a lot of scripts flying around where you're not really playing a character a story just happens around you totally and you know I don't want to play those parts so Eddie is my very loud way of saying there are other things I can do but I can do there are things like other things I can do

but I can do them in a more subtle way if you need me to It's Brad Pitt's true romance I can be like a crazy stoner guy in the room if you want I'll also be somewhat pretty for you and carry a gun if you need me too That being said

So what's the franchise that you would Give up your firstborn to be a part of? Is there one? I mean were you a Star Wars? Star Trek, Tolkien, any kind of guy growing up? Yeah, yeah, yeah. If they came out to me and said, look, there's a part for you in the second or third, then I would immediately, I would be there. In which one, Star Wars you're saying?

Yeah, Star Wars. You know, that's such a huge thing. It was such a huge part of my growing up. Yeah. That I would definitely do. I mean, you know, I'm set to play Robin Hood, and that is, you know, I would imagine that they are hoping that that will go on and tell a couple of stories if it's a success.

Your accent will be better than Costner. I can guarantee. Yes. I love Kastner's, by the way. But I love, I love Kostner. I don't think he actually tried. That'll be, I think he did in a few scenes.

That's the problem. No, I love that movie. That was my, that was my kind of Robin Hood that I remember that one with Morgan Freeman, wasn't it? But yeah, between that and Kingsman, you already have two commitments ongoing, potential ongoing commitments. Exactly, yeah.

And I think, you know, for me now, it's about trying to, I'm, because I'm at this kind of first stage in my, film career i've had to kind of devote all my time to it but i would like to be in a position where i can do a play at least every 18 months nice even just for eight weeks you know because it really is what i love doing it's not as um you can't it's not as lucrative but sure actually i don't really care because i love it um so i'd like to strike a balance do you know i really like to do some

television as well i think television is an incredible medium now and it's it allows you to you know I mean, it's just such a wealth of great television. Mr. Robot, I watched over Christmas. Just, I mean, it blew me away. You know, obviously the incredible House of Cards is ongoing. It's such a great medium for allowing stories to unfold over a long period of time. You can keep secrets. Yeah.

You know, the secret, Mr. Robot, you know, the secrets you can keep in that medium. Right. And how you can drip feed, you know, character. So I would love to go and do some more television. But for me now, it feels like I need to. go and find some great kind of character dramas after this. I mean, are these the kind of things that you would have conversations about with someone like Hugh who is, who struck that kind of balance as well as anybody can, I mean, he does like a play,

I feel like every year or two or musical. Hugh is just, you know, his big philosophy on life is have a go and he's got this voracious appetite for work and doing different things, you know. He's got a wonderful childlike enthusiasm for life and for his work. and it's actually very infectious to be around. He's a great guy and he is someone who strikes that incredible balance of doing the things that he loves and bigger projects. And he's so passionate about his Wolverine stuff. Believe me, when you guys came to Sundance, before you came to our space at Sundance,

a giant crate of his food came because he's in full on Wolverine training. And I know you're in training too. I mean, this is like a, this is a commitment, you guys. I've been trying a little bit with him, yeah. I mean, for me, we have very different, we have very different programs because for him, he's naturally got a good metabolism and he, it's, for him, it's about trying to get the muscle on in the gym, yeah, exactly. For me, it's about trying to keep off the pound. So, we have a, so when he, you know, when he gets a truck of chicken and steak, they bring me a piece of salary. I need to read your diet plan too, then.

It's not. It's been amazing traveling around with him, though. He's such a cool guy. I mean, I'd kill to do something else with him. But I think it'll happen. I think he wants to do, too. Yeah, you two seem to enjoy each other's company to a disgusting degree. Yeah, yeah.

We've got this really joke. It's just for the cameras and behind the scenes. Right. We don't talk to one another. That would that be? Yeah, yeah. He's kicked me off his plane. Have they launched fanfic along the lines of you and Colin back in Kingsman?

There was a little bit of... Oh, that was crazy, right? I mean, what was a very, very, very lovely working relationship was perverted into this with bizarre. I think they call it shipping, don't they? Yeah, shipping, exactly. There we are. It's a compliment. It's a very good looking guy, I'll take that.

I mean, come on, you can do a lot worse. Exactly right, yeah. No, nothing as of yet with me and Hugh. That would be really weird, Anthony Perry and Eddie. That would be really, really weird. I'm sure some fan artists coming your way very soon. Yeah, yeah. Particularly with giving my physique in that movie.

It might not look quite as romantic. It's sort of a deli. So I know you can't say much about Kingsman, but I'm curious. Julianne Moore has joined the gang, which is really exciting. Yeah, is that official now, yeah. I'll say it.

You don't need to say it, but it sounds like that's happening. Yeah, yeah, which is pretty cool. Very, very, very cool indeed. It's, um, I mean, the script is so, so good. Obviously, I can't say much about it, but it's a great expansion on the universe. Matthew's having real fun.

And, I mean, hold on to your hat. because it's pretty I would hope I mean is it weird that like because the structure of that first film was kind of a passing of the baton and it was kind of like a double act of you and Colin I don't know if there's like other major casting to come

in terms of like a second lead or whatever because she's the antagonist but like is it feel like more on your shoulders do you have someone else to play off of the way you did on Colin this time around? You know it's yeah there are other there are other new characters it's really very very reinvigorated.

So, you know, I'm not there on my own. And of course, we've got the wonderful Mark Strong. The best. Yeah, so Mark Strong comes more to the forefront. I just saw him. He was actually on the podcast recently for his amazing performance interview from the bridge on stage here. Which I saw it twice in London. I didn't see it here. Oh, my God. Insane.

And for Tony, do you think? Should be. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I'm really curious about that. Director's about to do The Crucible next year, too. Yeah, with Ben. Yeah, Ben and Ben Washaw and Sersher Ronan. Wow. Yeah, good stuff. I realized that was the same director. Yeah, yeah.

Yvonne Vonhove. That's right. That's right. Did he do the, he did something else here, right? Did he do a musical here, like a Boweryman? Perhaps, I don't know. I think this was my first experience with him, but it was, yeah. Yeah, I saw that play in London twice, because it was, because I remember when we were shooting Kingsman,

Mark was sort of learning his lines for him. Oh, sure. Yeah. So are there performances, like, touchstones like that, that kind of reinvigorate you, whether it's going way back or most of times that you can point to? Absolutely. Yeah, I mean, it happens all the time. I think Sean Penn in Carlito's way. I'm so glad you said that.

That's one of my favorite films. And he is amazing in that. Yeah, I think that was a big one. There's a few Sean Penns, actually. Yeah. There's a few Sean Penns. Gary Oldman's a big one for me. I mean, you know, even the lightest stuff he does.

He does it with such brilliance and aplomb, you know. Even, you know, obviously there's so many incredible performances given but even something like the fifth element, I was just going to say. You know what I mean? So there are plenty. I think Tim, Robin, Shawshank Redemption. Yeah.

What else? What else? Oh, this is fun. It's been a geek out a little bit. Yeah, yeah. A little bit of a geek out. You know, more recently, Brendan Gleason in Bruges, in Bruges, the Guard. The Guard, yeah, yeah.

And then in terms of the last few weeks, I thought that the room, uh, the room, rather, is, yeah, the two central performances in that. I think are two of the best bits of acting I've ever seen. And I think it's actually one of the best films I've ever seen. And I think it just completely blew me away. I thought it was incredible. The most touching, moving, astutely observed thing, the writing was brilliant. It was so crisp and clear

And not trying to be clever It was just so human So unbelievably human I just thought it was incredible Totally great I was very impressed by that too I mean you see I have this like Frank mask up here Lenny Abramson's last movie was Frank

Which I loved in it and it's like couldn't be more Night and Day I know I love directors like that Right Everything they do you know All of the great to do that You know Yeah Barry continually reinvented himself

Yeah yeah I love that So, do you keep kind of like a running director list? Like, what's your methodology? Like, do you kind of like, do you take meetings? Do you like, hey, Wes Anderson, P.T. Anderson, Annie Anderson, I'd happily have coffee with you. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. There are always, you know, list of people.

John Michael McDonough is someone I would come to work with. Any McDonough, they're all great amazing. Yeah, all the, all Markets here, any of them, yeah, call me. You know, recently, I forget his name, the Greek guy, Yorgos, who directed, damn lobster oh I haven't seen it yet I hear it's amazing crazy forgive me I forget that director's surname

or it's something that is not registered in my head because it's Greek but he also did an amazing movie called Dog Tooth just absolute like really amazing movies but

the thing about these guys is they're such brilliant directors with such clear visions I think that when they're making when they're writing these things they think of people who they want and that you know

that yeah well i guess i mean to backtrack to eddie the eagle i mean that's what as you say you're putting out into the universe a couple different looks and versions and saying like again like i've got range guys like i hope so that that's kind of you know i i did the movie because i love the script and i you know i love dexter and matthew and hugh but if there was a calculated element too that is what that is the message i was trying to send i suppose well it's the smart thing i think of i haven't seen the new cone brothers actually which isn't crazy because i adore them but like Why? It's a, I, I, I, they're my favorite film out. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, yeah. The, um, but like what Clooney, frankly, did relatively early. I mean, Clooney is, like, exceptional at playing an idiot, especially for the Cohn brothers. And was willing to kind of, like, you know, off of ER, he was like, being handed all these matinee idol things again. But, like, very soon after was playing buffoons and idiots and was defining that he wasn't going to go down that kind of typical path. But it's great thing because it's subversive, isn't it? Yeah. And it immediately kind of, it's endearing and humanizing. Yeah. You know, you know, you know, You don't want the matinee idol that doesn't have a sense of humor about himself.

Absolutely. You know, George Clooney is an incredibly clever guy. Despite not casting you, what an asshole. No. You know, the fact that I even turned his head at that early stage was a huge compliment. Let's wrap up in these last few minutes. I've got a weird Indiana Jones fedora with a couple random questions. Do you want to pick out a few?

I would love to. I see you eyeing it. I know. I clocked it. I wondered if it was for me. I feel like we should have some theme music. Can you put that in in post? Yeah, what kind of music do you want?

Oh, I see in the end of course. I'm sure John Williams will happily license that to us. Oh, yeah, of course. Okay. Good luck. So this is... Thank you. That's some sound effects that Josh has had in the post.

His own Foley artist. It's a one-man band. It's atmosphere. Okay. What have we going here? Okay, so this question is, where haven't you been that you want to go? Somewhere that I can see the Northern Lights

Oh That is my aim I don't think I'm going to have time this year But in the next 18 months I want to see the Northern Lights Very nice Yeah okay So I think you can see it from Norway

Is that right I honestly don't know Good luck on that adventure Yes that's something I really ought to do Okay This is fun Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings Movies or books

Go either way This is your podcast The Hobbit was a very very very big book In my childhood but so were J.K. Rowling's books. So I think in terms of books, I probably have to go Lord of the Rings. And in the nicest possible way, I think Lord of the Rings was a bit of a precursor to Harry Potter in a lot of ways. I'm sure she would admit to that to some degree.

In terms of the films, I think probably the Potter movies, I think. I think a better batting average maybe, right? Yeah, with respect, obviously. With the greatest respect. I think, yeah, yeah, we're going on batting average because, look, there are some fantastic moments. The highs of that are great, but... Yeah. You know, Ian McKellen,

Surian McAllen, in all the things, incredible. It's got some brilliant elements, but I think the Harry Potter movies might just pick it. Fair enough. Okay. Favorite Godfather movie,

Godfather, too, obviously. It's, I mean, I... Yo! I've had this about... I don't know. It's a mood thing for me. It is a mood thing for me. Do you know why it is for me?

Because I read the Mario Puso... novel first and I think this is going to be sacrious to say it but I read The Godfather before I watched it and That's unusual actually. It's very unusual and actually In that classic way it stopped me from connecting with it fully. It did because I had such a clear idea of the characters

And even the great Brando Puccino Right you're like they could have done better It wasn't in your mind's eye it wasn't what it was The greatest actors of the past 50 years But I just could not break away from You know

Your brain is so You know The imagination is always Going to be more powerful Interesting And two was uncharted territory To a degree for you at least Yeah yeah yeah

But yeah but then I didn't read I think this Godfather 2's based on the Sicilian I think it's called I think Or maybe elements I'm not sure Yeah But I hadn't read that so it was

It felt easier Okay Fair enough One or two more feel free to Yes Choose your own end Let's go for two Because I'm actually doing this

My drink of choice is, so it really does vary. At the moment, alcoholic, on an alcoholic. We're adults here. We're adults here. So at the moment, I'm on the soda, vodka, fresh lime thing. It does the trick. Desperant, trying to get my abs back. And then, so, but ordinarily, I am a lager guy.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah, not good for the Kingsman diet, probably. Not good for the Kingsman diet. I like Peroni. Peroni Italian. Let's go over one more Alright, finish strong

No pressure Finish strong Zombies or vampires That's a great finish So I love Love zombie movies You know Yeah

Right back from the George Romero's stuff Through to Sean of the Dead The remake of Dawn of the Dead Which I think is brilliant Although fast zombies Top Potato 28 days later

28 weeks later brilliant movies but they're kind of like they're more like rage virus right right yeah I know Danny Boyle doesn't call them zombies and that yeah

yeah and then of course you know most recently the brilliant walking dead I think for me I think because

you know and I've read like World War Z I read that before I saw it as well and there's something about the whole apocalyptic thing

that it just makes for interesting character drama Whereas vampire kind of, vampires kind of seem to be more secret shadows running alongside society feeding off, right? That being said, a good circle back to Gary Oldman, a good Bram Stoker's Dracula always does the trick. Yes, absolutely, absolutely. But I am a sucker for a kind of apocalypse themed things. So I think on that basis, I'm going for zombies over vampires. Fair enough, fair enough.

Yeah, I could always go, even if it's a shitty post-apocalyptic movie, I'm still kind of in. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just, like, fine with being in that world. The only one I've... Do you know what? I didn't watch. I didn't watch the Vigo Mortensen Road. The road's good. Have you read the book of that one?

I read the book and it had such a profound effect on me. It's an amazing book, yeah. I just could not... I couldn't risk it. Yeah. I couldn't risk it. Because, like, I read, I also read, um, no country. This whole podcast has me just been showing off about books I've read, isn't it?

Taryn, everything can read. You read. I haven't read anything for ages, actually, probably over a year, but I read no country for old men and I knew I was safe with that because you know beloved Cohen brothers they won't do you wrong they're not going to do as wrong and it you know it was easily as good as the book um but with the road I just couldn't risk it was such a profound I was so profoundly moved by it that I couldn't risk having it ruined by the movie well to be continued we're going to continue Terran's movie and book club of the month on Josh Harvest's podcast it's going to become a

regular feature yeah so next week readers we will be discussing we're on the shore by Heruki Murakar. Oh, wow. Really highbrow. Check out Eddie the Eagle. You know I'm a fan of this one, honestly. It totally works. And I'm really happy for you, man, that you're charting a really cool course early on in your career and excited to see what comes next. Thanks, brother. It's always good to see you, man. Good to see you, man. Thanks, bud. Thanks again to goodtherapy.org for sponsoring today's episode of Happy, Sad, Confused. Goodtherapy.org is the most trusted online resource for finding a therapist.

Meeting with a therapist or counselor can help people to live happy, fulfilling lives. And since 2007, Good Therapy.org has helped millions of people find qualified counselors and therapists. There is hope. There are people who care. Change is possible. Find the right therapist at www.g. Hey, everybody. This is Jimmy Pardo from the Never Not Funny podcast. Hey, listen, coming up on March 5th, it's our annual podcastathon. That is the 12-hour version of Never Not Funny, hosted by myself, Matt Belknap and Pat Francis. We have a different guest on every 20 minutes to a half hour this year, including Doug Benson, Scott Ackerman, Paul Left Tompkins, Sarah Silverman, and over 20 more. We are raising money for Smile Train, the great organization that goes to third world countries to fix the cleft lips and cleft palates of people that couldn't otherwise afford. that surgery, it changes a person's life.

You could watch it live at Never Not Funny.com on March 5th, between 12 noon and midnight Pacific time. Watch and donate. I thank you for your time. Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop. This has been a Wolfpop production, executive produced by Paul Shear, Adam, Axe, Chris Bannon, and Matt Gourley. For more information and content, visit wolfpop.com.

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