Father does best
For father bragging rights, Hugh Jackman’s two children have quite a selection menu. Oscar and Ava could pick dad’s seven Wolverine portrayals plus two more in his future with X-Men: Apocalypse in theatres next year and another Wolverine spinoff set for a 2017 release. They could choose his best actor Oscar nomination for his Jean Valjean part in Les Misérables.
Or they could single out the fact that Jackman’s name shows up on a “cool” short list to play James Bond every five years or so, and has again this year.
Those are just a few of highlights that Oscar and Ava could mention but never do. And then dad landed the role of Blackbeard the pirate in the Peter Pan prequel Pan.
“My kids loved it and they are brutally honest,” said Jackman promoting the film re- cently. “They said, ‘We actually like this one.’ And I thought, ‘What are you saying?’ ”
The origins movie, directed by Joe Wright from a Jason Fuchs script, is initially set in London during WWII. Peter (played by newcomer Levi Miller) is an orphan hoping for his mother’s return. Instead, he’s abducted one night by Blackbeard’s pirates, who eventually force him to work the mines of Neverland.
When Peter escapes with the conniving James Hook (Garrett Hedlund), the 11-yearold embarks on a journey to find his mother with Hook and warrior princess Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara) by his side. Only Blackbeard and his henchmen stand in the way.
The narrative may be new, but the cast of characters and the fantasy spirit follow J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan play and book. (Even Blackbeard gets a mention as Hook’s captain in the original Barrie material).
“I’ve always wanted a role in this swashbuckling pirate world,” Jackman said.
At first, the Australian thought that his Blackbeard portrayal should exploit some of the historical references. Wright explained early on he was thinking more of “a wig of Marie Antoinette and the costume of Louis XIV.”
The flamboyant route won out for a few reasons. Wright had decided on his lavish vision in pre-production and he figured the ostentatious presentation would assist the actor’s emoting. He was right.
“I felt 80% of my work had been done by the over-the-top costumes, ruffles, feathers and wigs,” noted Jackman. “(Blackbeard) is a show pony, and it brought out the ham in me, which is not too far below the surface.”
In keeping with the exuberance, Jackman as Blackbeard even gets to sing a winking version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” during one sequence; although he admitted to over-selling his vocals at the recording session.
As he recalled, the producer at the studio told him: “‘Fantastic — but it’s a little bit too Broadway.’ ” The Tony winner for The Boy From Oz attempted a more unassuming vocal rendition, which made it into the movie.
However, Jackman said Pan isn’t a musical. Yet he hoped the latest rendition contains the vitality and energy of the Barrie fairy tale.
“What I love about (Pan) is that it made me feel like an 11-year-old kid again,” Jackman said.