Joel Edgerton chats new sports movie The Boys in the Boat, fan-favorite Warrior, and wanting to "get back" at George Clooney

EntertainmentMoviesDrama MoviesThe Boys in the BoatJoel Edgerton chats new sports movie The Boys in the Boat, fan-favorite Warrior, and wanting to “get back” at George ClooneyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. EntertainmentMoviesDrama MoviesThe Boys in the BoatJoel Edgerton chats new sports movie The Boys in the Boat, fan-favorite Warrior, and wanting to “get back” at George ClooneyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Getty Images) GamesRadar+ spoke to the latter about the new sports drama, why he wants to get back at Clooney, and whether he could still take on his Warrior co-star Tom Hardy in the ring. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. GamesRadar+: Congratulations on the film! How much did you know about this story beforehand? Joel Edgerton:I didn’t know anything about it until somebody brought this up with me. I then read the book and could see why people wanted to make it into a film – everything that was true was suitable to the building of an escalating story, all the obstacles and benchmarks they have to hit to finally show up in front of Hitler, stealing gold from his team. And there’s something in the team message – these boys having to come together and support each other. It’s pretty cool. So, you play the team’s coach, Al Ulbrickson. Dozens of boys try out for the rowing crew, but Joe is the one who really draws his attention. Why do you think he stands out to Ulbrickson? There’s something that he sees in Joe, that promise, but trouble too. There’s a curiosity about him compared to the other boys – and there is something too with his background, his poverty. We wanted to draw a line between Ulbrickson and Joe, and a sense of kinship between them does start to grow. He is very hard on the boys though, always scrutinizing them. Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures) As you mentioned there, Joe comes from a poor background – and poverty is a key theme here, as we see the working-class boys compete against richer, more privileged schools. Would you say that makes the story still relevant today, as money remains an obstacle in sport? There’s a good line in the film about how it should just be about the talent – nothing else. Yeah. But it’s the same as entry into college – money opens doors. And it always will. (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Once you have sat behind the camera, a whole world of information opens up to you, empathy for the way films get made. I’m always curious whether that’s going to change the way I work in front of a camera, be that guy who thinks that he knows better, but it hasn’t been the case. Actors who become directors are lucky as they have watched so many others do it – can pull things from different people, the good and the bad, put it in your basket, steal tricks from everyone, and benefit from that. (Image credit: Lionsgate) Although you play the coach, did you do any rowing yourself whilst working on the film? I did some single scull rowing. We shot a couple of things where my character goes into the rivers to check the lanes and conditions. So, I didn’t have to row out a stroke, but it had to look like I knew what I was doing. But those scenes aren’t in the film because they ended up being unnecessary, not because I did a bad job. Well, I like to think so anyway – but ask George! We have seen you on the other side before though – you played an MMA fighter inWarrior. Have you still kept up with your training, as I know [co-star] Tom Hardy has? No, I haven’t been doing any of the MMA. I’ve been doing a little bit of boxing – but that’s nothing compared to Tom Hardy. He’s doing jujitsu tournaments now! Strangely, in the film, his character actually wasn’t so much into that side of things, but now he’s doing a lot more of it. For me, whilst I do box, I’m more into gentle things these days. The Boys in the Boat is out in US and UK cinemas now. For more we also spoke to Clooney and the cast abouttrainingfor the new sports drama, whycasting Hitlerfor the film was a strange experience, and whether Edgertoncould still fighthis Warrior co-star Tom Hardy. You can also hear more from Clooney and Turner on the latest episode of theInside Total Filmpodcast. 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Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel 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Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”