While premiering The Son at the Venice Film Festival, Hugh Jackman told the press how he changed his ways with his children due to the role in the drama (via Deadline). Before, he showed strength and independence, but now he has become more open about his emotions, leading to a positive outcome for his 17- and 22-year-old.
“For many, many years as a parent the job was to appear strong and dependable and never worried and I don’t want to burden my children,” he said. “I share my vulnerabilities more with my 17- and 22-year-old and I see their relief when I do.”
The Son follows Hugh Jackman as Peter, a divorced father with a new partner, played by Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), and their baby. Things get turned upside down when his ex-wife Kate, played by Laura Dern, arrives with their teenage son Nicholas, played by Zen McGrath (Dig). His son has not been in school for a while and is angry and distant. Peter tries to connect with him and be there, but his baby and work get in the way.
The Son made Hugh Jackman more vulnerable to his children
The bar is high for The Son with Hugh Jackman for director Florian Zeller, who won an Oscar for The Father, an adaption of his own play. This latest film will also be an adaption of a play he wrote as he returns to work with writer Christopher Hampton. Hampton is also an Oscar winner for The Father and 1989’s Dangerous Liaisons. He was nominated for 2007’s Atonement.
Also starring in the film will be Anthony Hopkins, who won his second Oscar for The Father, Hugh Quarshie (Holy City), and William Hope (The Sandman).
When it comes to the role in The Son, Hugh Jackman said when he read the script, he had “a feeling you rarely get as an actor,” one that the “part is made for you and you must play it.” When it releases in theaters on November 11, he said he hopes it will “start conversations” and people will not “worry alone.”