by Hugh Jackman is no stranger to the spotlight. As one of Hollywood’s most prolific leading men, he has captivated audiences for decades with star turns in blockbuster films like the X-Men franchise and award-winning musicals such as Les Miserables. However, when Jackman signed on to play legendary showman P.T. Barnum in 2017’s The Greatest Showman, he was enthused by more than just the chance to sing and dance on screen again. Jackman was also eager to share the screen with Zac Efron, and their electrifying on-set dynamic made for an unforgettable filming experience that bolstered the film’s success.
An Icon Meets an Ingénue
By 2017, Hugh Jackman’s reputation preceded him. He had over 20 years of experience captivating viewers on stage and screen. Zac Efron, Jackman’s co-star as novice circus performer Phillip Carlyle, had also built impressive credentials in the entertainment industry since his breakout role in 2006’s High School Musical. However, Efron still felt understandably star-struck by his more seasoned co-lead.
During an interview promoting The Greatest Showman, Efron remarked, “I’ve been a fan of Hugh for so long… He was Wolverine, for god’s sake! And here I was, finally meeting my hero and getting to work with him.” Meanwhile, Jackman was eager to mentor his enthusiastic co-star. “I saw so much of myself in Zac,” commented Jackman. “That young, driven kid desperate to better his craft. I knew I had knowledge to impart that could really help elevate his already impressive talent.”
This mutual respect resulted in a nurturing partnership between the leads. They brought out the best in one another during filming while forming an easy bond that translated effortlessly onscreen.
Dedication to Doing the Role Justice
While Jackman and Efron formed a natural rapport, they also connected about the challenges and rewards of their meaty Greatest Showman roles. “P.T. Barnum was such an iconic yet complex figure to embody,” Jackman explained. “And Zac had the task of bringing a fictionalized character to life while stealing scenes amongst icons like Michelle Williams.”
Efron echoed Jackman’s sentiments about the demanding nature of the shoot: “The rehearsal schedule was just intense. Hugh and I were in hardcore training, doing vocal lessons, choreography… it was non-stop! But we both wanted so badly to do right by this larger-than-life show biz tale.”
The actors’ shared work ethic brought them together, as did their determination to do justice to the film’s catchy musical numbers. “The dancing was where Zac really blew me away,” said Jackman. “Seeing him pick up the choreography so effortlessly, with so much style and charisma… it was humbling. And it motivated me to work even harder.”
Meanwhile, Efron continued using Jackman’s incomparable talents as inspiration in developing his own character: “I had no formal musical theater education like Hugh so I was really leaning on him every day, asking for pointers to finally make this leap.”
Lightheartedness Loosens Up Intense Shoot
Make no mistake, both actors took preparing for their challenging roles extremely seriously. “Hugh set the tone every day by being completely focused,” said Efron. “When the cameras started rolling, everything was down to business.” However, Efron also complimented Jackman’s levity between demanding takes:
“The shoot could get really draining, but in between scenes Hugh would pepper in these funny personal stories or silly bits to lighten to mood. His wry sense of humor brought such an infectious energy when we needed it most.”
Jackman also praised Efron’s penchant for keeping spirits high on set, particularly during an intense sequence set on a tightrope: “Zac had to conquer his fear of heights while mastering amazing acrobatics atop that rope. And yet throughout that entire training process, he kept things so breezy with his sly wit and one-liners. It illuminated that gap between such a heavy task and being able to creatively play once the work is done, which is vital for an enjoyable performance.”
Mutual Creative Inspiration
Jackman and Efron greatly admired each other’s acting instincts and creative choices. “Zac repeatedly made unexpected choices that elevated intricate scenes,” Jackman commented glowingly. “I really had to stay on my toes and react honestly in each moment. That spontaneity kept things profoundly fresh.”
Likewise, Efron found Jackman brave in his willingness to explore: “I was amazed at how Hugh could turn off that movie star charisma in dramatic moments to dig deeper and get really vulnerable. It pushed me out of my own comfort zone and strengthened my own creative muscles.”
Their ping-ponging energy enhanced the collaborative spirit as Jackman and Efron inspired standout moments from one another on and off camera. “We knew magic was happening in the moment on set,” said Jackman. “But I don’t think either of us fully realized how much our give-and-take dynamic would resonate with audiences until that first test screening. The temperature in the room was palpable when our characters united in the showstopping musical numbers or connected during vulnerable scenes. That chemistry was the direct result of what Zac and I built together on set each day.”
Confidence to Conquer Challenging Stunts
While Jackman built Efron’s confidence in executing vocals and choreography, Efron also had to overcome longtime phobias to perform death-defying stunts as Carlyle.
Jackman recounted Efron opening up about his extreme height phobia before shooting several scenes requiring stunt rigs and harnesses dozens of feet in the air: “Zac understandably felt so overwhelmed about grappling with that fear while also pulling off intricate trapeze choreography. So I made it my personal mission to be available as his wingman… getting on the ropes course to show him the safety protocols or talking him through anxiety moments.”
Efron credited Jackman’s compassion for helping conquer self-doubt: “Hugh nurtured me through those obstacles in the most selfless way… whether helping rig my harness correctly or looking me in the eyes to reassure me I had this. It gave me that mental toughness to finally enjoy the challenge.”
In the end, Efron more than delivered, wowing audiences with his death-defying stuntwork. “I cannot articulate how proud I felt watching Zac float through the air so gracefully for his big moments after overcoming so much fear,” remembered Jackman. “Seeing that courageous performance was absolutely golden.”
Lasting Creative Bond Forged
Most cherished for both actors were the lasting artistic and interpersonal lessons they gleaned while pushing each other to deliver career-defining performances in The Greatest Showman.
“I gained invaluable insights about taking creative risks from watching Hugh bring Barnum to life,” said Efron. “It showed me how vulnerability and willingness to try something different without self-judgement are vital to inspiring work.”
Likewise, the experience left Jackman deeply changed for the better: “Zac awakened this creative exuberance in me. His stellar dedication reminded me to see each scene as an exciting challenge.”
Beyond influencing each other’s approaches to the craft, their connection evolved into a long-lasting friendship. “We had such a blast that, genuinely, we were sad when shooting ended,” said Jackman. Indeed, the lead actors stayed loyal friends during post-production and shared the emotional thrill of bringing Barnum’s story to eager audiences when the film finally hit theaters on Christmas Day, 2017.
Nearly seven years later, both stars still speak fondly of their collaborative chemistry elevating their respective careers. As Efron continues honing his dramatic chops, he channels the courage Jackman exemplified by taking risks and striking star turns in unconventional material like The Greatest Showman. Meanwhile, Jackman cites the jolt of creative inspiration Efron provided as the spark that motivated him to keep pushing himself in new directions.
Most touchingly, their characters’ friendship modeled onscreen the same genuine bond cultivated between the two stars. Moviegoers fell in love with the visceral connection between Barnum and Carlyle through standout musical numbers accentuating the rapport between Jackman and Efron. That palpable chemistry catapulted numerous songs like “The Other Side” and “Rewrite the Stars” to the top of the Billboard charts for months.
Ultimately, by pushing each other out of familiar boxes, Jackman and Efron created literal show-stopping art together. Though the curtain has long closed on The Greatest Showman, the electricity the two icons generated on screen lives on for posterity. Their shared enthusiasm resulted in truly capturing lightning in a bottle… the makings of a scene-stealing Hollywood bromance destined to delight audiences for generations.
