With Obi-Wan Kenobi on the imminent horizon and other projects stacking up, Everest from director Doug Liman co-starring Mark Strong and Outlander’s Sam Heughan was among the most interesting projects Ewan McGregor had been attached to. Appearing on Zoe Ball’s breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, the topic of Everest came up and Heughan was forced to break the bad news – the film is no longer happening, at least not for the time being.
Towards the end of their interview Zoe, 51, said: “Before I let you go, Everest. This film – what a cast! You, Ewan McGregor and Mark Strong. Have you started filming yet? Has this happened yet?”
As the radio host was talking, Sam could be heard chuckling in the background before interjecting.
“Zoe… Just hit me where it hurts,” the actor declared dramatically, as Zoe said: “Oh no!”
“Hit me right where it hurts!” Sam said again. “You know, we were supposed to be shooting this fantastic movie about Everest. Unfortunately, it’s not happening at the moment, but who knows? In the future it might, it’s just our schedules clashed…”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry!” Zoe interrupted.
“Oh that’s fine Zoe,” Sam replied with a tone of mock despair, “I’ll just go and jump off a cliff right now.”
“No please don’t!” Zoe laughed, as Sam added: “A very high cliff, a very high Everest cliff.”
Let’s hope Heughan is right and the film does happen somewhere down the road, but for now strike Everest off the list of forthcoming projects starring Ewan McGregor.
