Whether or not Zeller’s latest is your cup of tea, there’s no denying that Jackman looks to be deeply effective as Peter, a father trying to do right by his child in the way he wished his own father had done for him. During the same interview, Jackman revealed he made it a point to reach out to the director about the part during the casting process:
“I obviously had seen [“The Father”], I’d seen his plays, I was going to do one of Florian’s plays. He’s written a lot of plays. And so I read the script, and knew I had to do it. I had also heard that a couple of other actors were being talked about. So I had this awkward moment where I emailed the director, because I felt an urgency to play the part. It’s a rare thing to happen. It’s one you look for. I emailed him, I said, ‘Sorry, if you’re dancing with somebody else, if you are, I’m not the kind of guy to cut in. But if you’re not, I would love to play the part.'”
It’s interesting to think what other actors might have also played this role well had Jackman not been available, but there’s a tenderness in him that feels crucial to a part like this — and that Good Morning America interview is proof of that.
“The Son” will premiere in theaters in the United States on November 25, 2022.