Jake Gyllenhaal had a heroic guest alongside him for the premiere of his new film ‘Stronger,’ Boston marathoner and bombing victim Jeff Bauman.
The 36-year-old actor has spent some time with Bauman as he prepared for the role. As they walked the carpet Wednesday. Bauman received the full Hollywood treatment as he shared the spotlight with Gyllenhaal.
The film debuted fittingly at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown where Bauman made his journey back to walking with the assistance of prosthetics after losing both of his legs during the horrific terror attack in 2013.
A story of survival: Jeff Bauman stands alongside Jake Gyllenhaal for the Massachusetts premiere of ‘Stronger’
First responders including Carlos Arredondo, in cowboy hat, tend to Bauman, after the deadly terror attack at the Boston Marathon
Emotional: The bombings are recreated in the film – Gyllenhaal as Baumann is seen ebing tended to by emergency personnel after the explosions
‘From the moment I met Jeff, I was intimidated,’ Gyllenhaal told WBZ-TV. ‘I was nervous. I was nervous to try and tell his story as honestly as I could.’
The film also features several doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel who rehabilitated Bauman, playing themselves.
Bauman had finished the marathon and was at the finish line cheering on his wife when the terrorist bombs exploded. It was a two-and-a-half year journey before he was able to walk with the prostetics.
Carlos Arredondo (R), the man who came to his Bauman’s aid immediately following the explosions brings him on the ice to wave the Boston Strong Flag during Stanley Cup Finals
The movie recreates the terrifying moment when two bombs went off at the finishing line of the Boston Marathon
He assisted authorities to help track down the terrorists from his hospital bed.
‘Stronger’ based on Bauman’s memoir of the same name.
Gyllenhaal gives a gut-wrenching performance as Boston Marathon bombing survivor Baumann.
The film details his relationship with girlfriend Erin Hurley – played by Tatiana Maslany – who was competing in the marathon and for whom he was waiting when he was injured in the terrorist attack.
It shows the mental and physical struggles he endured as he tried to come to terms with what happened and worked to rebuild his body and his life.
Three people died in the explosions and hundreds were injured.
A second explosion goes off near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013.
Shocking and iconic: This image of Jeff Baumann being taken from the scene by volunteer Carlos Arredondo (in the cowboy hat) after the April 2013 bombing shows how his legs were left mangled by the terror attack
Powerful: Gyllenhaal recreates the Masschusetts-native’s long road to recovery in the movie
Buddies: The actor and his subject were VIP guests at the Indy 500 in May
Though he miraculously survives, the working-class Bostonian is forced to adjust to a new life in the wake of the tragedy.
While toughing it through months of physical therapy, he also had to deal with the emotional toll of the bombing.
In the aftermath, Jeff is tortured by an overwhelming guilt for surviving something where so many others perished.
‘There was a time when I just wanted to give up and now I just want to live,’ Gyllenhaal says at the end of the trailer.
Traumatic injury: Baumann lost both legs at the knee when two bombs exploded as he waited at the 2013 Boston Marathon finish line for his girlfriend Erin Hurley
Gut-wrenching: The trailer gives a glimpse of the pain and angst Baumann experienced in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in powerful performance by Gyllanhaal
Relationship: Tatiana Maslany plays Baumann’s girlfriend Erin, who is a focal point of the film as she helps him recover from the physical and emotional trauma of the attack
Tough cookie: The film also deals with how he struggled with physical and emotional scars and how the tragedy impacted his relationship with Hurley
Historic: Jeff Baumann recovered sufficiently to be the guest of honor at the Boston Bruins in June as they competed for the Stanley Cup
Much of the story centers around the protagonist’s relationship with his girlfriend Erin, played by Tatiana Maslany.
Although their relationship is complex, she stands by Jeff’s side as he battles his demons and fights to overcome his fears, anger and confusion.
Jeff’s family is also along for his journey, with Miranda Richardson playing his mother Patty Bauman while Clancy Brown plays the survivor’s father.
In real life, Baumann and Hurley went on to marry and have a daughter. In Ferbuary, the couple confirmed they plan to divorce.
His burden: Baumann is tortured by an overwhelming guilt for surviving the attacj in which three people were killed and hunders injured
There for him: Hurley stands by her boyfriend’s side as he battles his demons and fights to overcome his fears, anger and confusion
The dramatic film takes director David Gordon Green into new territory.
Green is best known as the man behind comedies HBO’s Eastbound & Down and the 2008 stoner romp Pineapple Express.
Stronger arrives in theaters September 22.
Coming soon: Stronger arrives in theaters on September 22