Does Danny Boyle think a film on Donald Trump is worth his efforts?

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This was published 7 years ago

Does Danny Boyle think a film on Donald Trump is worth his efforts?

By Amy Croffey

He's not afraid to tackle the harsh realities of life or make political statements, but does Danny Boyle think a film on US President Donald Trump is worthy of his cinematic skills?

"It will be very interesting to see how his time emerges in culture. That will start to emerge quite soon," the Oscar-winning director told Fairfax Media from the orange carpet of the Sydney premiere of T2 Trainspotting last week.

When asked if he thinks the surge in resistance to the 45th US president and his administration might prevent the radical changes Trump wants to bring about, Boyle said he felt it was unlikely.

"I would say the culture looks like it's definitely about to change. The brake that there is on individual leaders, he just appears to be ignoring as much as he can.

Director Danny Boyle feels "relieved" that <i>T2 Trainspotting</i> has been positively received so far.

Director Danny Boyle feels "relieved" that T2 Trainspotting has been positively received so far.Credit: WireImage

"I mean I think there is a brake on individual leadership, preventing dictatorship-type behaviour, but he's inclined that way clearly."

Not ruling out any future projects about the controversial world leader, Boyle said "we'll see" when pressed, but laughed off the possibility of a Steve Jobs-type biopic.

"Aaron Sorkin [the Oscar-winning screenwriter of The Social Network, mastermind behind The West Wing and outspoken adversary of Trump] would be very interested in turning his attention to Donald Trump – that would be a combo I would go to watch," he laughed.

While he's sitting on the fence about a project on the former reality television star, Sydney could well feature as a backdrop in his next work. Looking around him at the scrim of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge from the St George OpenAir Cinema at Mrs Macquaries Point, he laughed: "Coming here for a year to make a film would not feel like a sentence."

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Colin Fassnidge and wife Jane at the <i>T2 Trainspotting</i> premiere in Sydney on Thursday.

Colin Fassnidge and wife Jane at the T2 Trainspotting premiere in Sydney on Thursday. Credit: WireImage

He said he felt "relieved" that the highly-anticipated Trainspotting sequel has been positively received so far.

"If you don't make a good job of it, [the fans] will kill you and rightly so. It's not just any old film," Boyle said. "There was a relief, when the common reaction of people was: 'It's OK'."

Danny Boyle, Irvine Welsh and Robert Carlye on the set of <i>T2 Trainspotting</i>.

Danny Boyle, Irvine Welsh and Robert Carlye on the set of T2 Trainspotting.Credit: TriStar Pictures

More than 2000 viewers turned out for the premiere and when the down-to-earth award winner finished with his media responsibilities, he took the chance to mingle and take selfies with fans.

My Kitchen Rules' Colin Fassnidge and his wife, Jane, took a well-earned night off from their newly-refurbished Surry Hills haunt, 4Fourteen, to check out Boyle's latest offering.

L-R: Ewen Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller and  Robert Carlyle in <i>T2 Trainspotting</i>.

L-R: Ewen Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle in T2 Trainspotting.Credit: Jaap Buitendijk

"I grew up with Trainspotting," Fassnidge said. "I went to school in inner-city Dublin, so it was very similar to that and the actual heroin epidemic was massive where I grew up. It wasn't as rough as Trainspotting though, but it was like that."

One-quarter of the footy-playing Burgess brothers, Tom, who is originally from West Yorkshire, England, was another longtime Trainspotting fan in attendance.

"It's a very iconic film back where I'm from and Danny Boyle is a legend," the South Sydney Rabbitohs player said.

The burgeoning Burgess family grew by one last month when Sam Burgess and wife Phoebe welcomed a baby girl, Poppy, and Tom said he's "loving" the expanding family.

"Poppy is doing really well. I love it when she does her tummy time. She's really getting strong," he said.

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Asked if he was feeling broody himself, he quipped: "I need to get a girlfriend first."

T2 Trainspotting in cinemas February 23.

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