Netflix is ready to tee off with Will Ferrell.
In his first scripted TV comedy series, Ferrell will star in a scripted comedy series titled Golf. The streamer has picked up 10 episodes of the series, which is co-created by Ferrell, Ramy Youssef — who will also have an onscreen role — and Josh Rabinowitz (Babes, Ramy, The Carmichael Show).
In Golf, Ferrell will play a fictional golf legend. Details on Youssef’s part are being kept under wraps though sources say the show isn’t a two-hander. (Netflix also stresses that Golf should be capitalized, though it’s unclear if it’s an acronym.)
Youssef and Rabinowitz, who previously teamed for Hulu’s critically praised comedy Ramy, will serve as showrunners and exec produce Golf alongside Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum and Alix Taylor for Gloria Sanchez Productions. Rian Johnson (Peacock’s Poker Face), Ram Bergman and Nena Rodrigue will exec produce for T-Street,...
In his first scripted TV comedy series, Ferrell will star in a scripted comedy series titled Golf. The streamer has picked up 10 episodes of the series, which is co-created by Ferrell, Ramy Youssef — who will also have an onscreen role — and Josh Rabinowitz (Babes, Ramy, The Carmichael Show).
In Golf, Ferrell will play a fictional golf legend. Details on Youssef’s part are being kept under wraps though sources say the show isn’t a two-hander. (Netflix also stresses that Golf should be capitalized, though it’s unclear if it’s an acronym.)
Youssef and Rabinowitz, who previously teamed for Hulu’s critically praised comedy Ramy, will serve as showrunners and exec produce Golf alongside Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum and Alix Taylor for Gloria Sanchez Productions. Rian Johnson (Peacock’s Poker Face), Ram Bergman and Nena Rodrigue will exec produce for T-Street,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Will Ferrell is making a rare foray into scripted television in a big way.
The former SNL star, whose acting credits have mainly focused on films, is co-creating the new Netflix comedy series Golf alongside Ramy Youssef (Ramy) and Josh Rabinowitz (The Carmichael Show). Ferrell and Youssef are set to star.
In his first leading role in a comedy series, Ferrell will star as a fictional golf legend. Details regarding Youssef’s role are under wraps.
Ferrell was previously developing a series following a professional golfer who becomes the face of a controversial new league competing with the PGA, as Deadline reported exclusively back in 2023. “It also evokes one of Ferrell’s signature movies, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The series is in a similar tone, I hear, bringing Ferrell back to the sports arena he also explored in Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro,...
The former SNL star, whose acting credits have mainly focused on films, is co-creating the new Netflix comedy series Golf alongside Ramy Youssef (Ramy) and Josh Rabinowitz (The Carmichael Show). Ferrell and Youssef are set to star.
In his first leading role in a comedy series, Ferrell will star as a fictional golf legend. Details regarding Youssef’s role are under wraps.
Ferrell was previously developing a series following a professional golfer who becomes the face of a controversial new league competing with the PGA, as Deadline reported exclusively back in 2023. “It also evokes one of Ferrell’s signature movies, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The series is in a similar tone, I hear, bringing Ferrell back to the sports arena he also explored in Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
This is not the documentary renaissance we hoped for. Despite its 2023 Oscar win for “Navalny,” CNN pulled back on non-fiction production. Non-fiction programming at Showtime Networks, which produced Oscar-nominated “Attica” in 2022, is no more.
“The New York Times Presents” series, which produced titles like “The Killing of Breonna Taylor” and “Framing Britney Spears,” is being phased out in favor of integrating non-fiction video into the media brand. Hot Docs is on the ropes; Participant, which produced documentaries like “An Inconvenient Truth,” “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” and “American Factory,” closed last month.
And then there’s Netflix, which is still very much in the documentary game under Adam Del Deo, Netflix VP of original documentary films and limited series — and can afford to be with nearly 270 million global subscribers. However, it’s a specific sort of gameplay: For tight, high-quality nonfiction work that’s heartwarming, or thrilling, or stars a celebrity,...
“The New York Times Presents” series, which produced titles like “The Killing of Breonna Taylor” and “Framing Britney Spears,” is being phased out in favor of integrating non-fiction video into the media brand. Hot Docs is on the ropes; Participant, which produced documentaries like “An Inconvenient Truth,” “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” and “American Factory,” closed last month.
And then there’s Netflix, which is still very much in the documentary game under Adam Del Deo, Netflix VP of original documentary films and limited series — and can afford to be with nearly 270 million global subscribers. However, it’s a specific sort of gameplay: For tight, high-quality nonfiction work that’s heartwarming, or thrilling, or stars a celebrity,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Typically, saying you're more excited about something other than the new Lady Gaga project is fair grounds for having your queer card taken away, but an exception can be made in the case of "The People's Joker." Indeed, as intrigued as I am to watch Gaga's Harley Quinn sing and dance her way through a toxic romance with Joaquin Phoenix's Clown Prince of Crime in Todd Phillips' "Joker: Folie à Deux" (a sentence I couldn't have imagined writing after watching Phillips' original Scorsesean DC drama for the first time back in 2019), it's Vera Drew's trans-coming-of-age DC Comics superhero parody that has my current attention.
Drew, similar to her fellow trans comedienne Harper Steele (the subject of Will Ferrell's acclaimed upcoming Netflix documentary "Will & Harper"), has quietly worked on some of the more memorable and daring comedic offerings of the past decade. In addition to editing Scott Aukerman...
Drew, similar to her fellow trans comedienne Harper Steele (the subject of Will Ferrell's acclaimed upcoming Netflix documentary "Will & Harper"), has quietly worked on some of the more memorable and daring comedic offerings of the past decade. In addition to editing Scott Aukerman...
- 3/5/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Sugarcane has become the latest big documentary deal out of the Sundance Film Festival.
Nat Geo has snapped up the doc, an investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school which ignites a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve.
Deadline understands that the Disney-owned factual brand has struck a deal in the low seven-figures. The doc comes from filmmakers Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie.
National Geographic Documentary Films will roll out Sugarcane at global festivals throughout the rest of the year and release it in theaters before its streaming debut on Disney+.
It is the latest deal out of Sundance for National Geographic Documentary Films; the company picked up Fire Of Love, which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars, out of the festival in 2022 as well as The Territory, which came from director Alex Pritz.
There were numerous documentary deals out of...
Nat Geo has snapped up the doc, an investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school which ignites a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve.
Deadline understands that the Disney-owned factual brand has struck a deal in the low seven-figures. The doc comes from filmmakers Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie.
National Geographic Documentary Films will roll out Sugarcane at global festivals throughout the rest of the year and release it in theaters before its streaming debut on Disney+.
It is the latest deal out of Sundance for National Geographic Documentary Films; the company picked up Fire Of Love, which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars, out of the festival in 2022 as well as The Territory, which came from director Alex Pritz.
There were numerous documentary deals out of...
- 2/21/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
With Covid lockdowns and shuttered cinemas and the dual wallop of the writers’ and actors’ strikes, it’s been a rough few years for independent movies. But the end of strike action last November has triggered a rebound in the indie market. After a strong showing in Sundance, buyers and sellers are looking to Berlin’s European Film Market to provide proof this recovery has legs.
Early signs are promising, with a flood of new projects across all budgets and genres. CAA Media Finance alone has half a dozen finished films on sale and around 20 big packages, including sci-fi actioner Afterburn with Dave Bautista and Samuel L. Jackson attached, selling together with Black Bear; the drama A Big Bold Beautiful Journey from After Yang and Pachinko director Kogonada, featuring Colin Farrell and a post-Barbie Margot Robbie, that 30West and Neon International are jointly handling, and the Michelle Yeoh action thriller The Mother alongside AGC International.
Early signs are promising, with a flood of new projects across all budgets and genres. CAA Media Finance alone has half a dozen finished films on sale and around 20 big packages, including sci-fi actioner Afterburn with Dave Bautista and Samuel L. Jackson attached, selling together with Black Bear; the drama A Big Bold Beautiful Journey from After Yang and Pachinko director Kogonada, featuring Colin Farrell and a post-Barbie Margot Robbie, that 30West and Neon International are jointly handling, and the Michelle Yeoh action thriller The Mother alongside AGC International.
- 2/16/2024
- by Scott Roxborough and Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Over 60 films came into this year’s Sundance Film Festival looking for buyers, but many of the key players on the indie film market already had movies premiering in the festival, with many of those among the most commercial and star-studded movies making their debuts.
Last year’s market was slow, especially for documentaries, but this year’s festival market was nothing but robust in 2024. We’re tracking everything that already has a home and will update this space throughout the month with every sale that comes in.
“Good One”
Section: U.S. Dramatic
Director: India Donaldson
Buyer: Metrograph Pictures
Cast: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy
Release Plans: Theatrical in Summer 2024
Buzz: India Donaldson’s “Good One” will be the first title acquired by Metrograph Pictures, as the company known for its film restorations and SVOD platform is now getting into theatrical distribution. And they picked a good one too.
Last year’s market was slow, especially for documentaries, but this year’s festival market was nothing but robust in 2024. We’re tracking everything that already has a home and will update this space throughout the month with every sale that comes in.
“Good One”
Section: U.S. Dramatic
Director: India Donaldson
Buyer: Metrograph Pictures
Cast: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy
Release Plans: Theatrical in Summer 2024
Buzz: India Donaldson’s “Good One” will be the first title acquired by Metrograph Pictures, as the company known for its film restorations and SVOD platform is now getting into theatrical distribution. And they picked a good one too.
- 2/13/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
When comedian and actor Will Farrell learned that his longtime friend and onetime Saturday Night Live (SNL) head writer Harper Steele had come out as a trans woman at the age of 61, he, like most of us on the outside looking in, had questions. As a close, dedicated friend, however, Farrell wanted to be as respectful as possible, putting compassion and empathy first and his own, possibly unresolved feelings second (or last). To that end, Farrell suggested a 17-day, coast-to-coast road trip documented by Josh Greenbaum. The perfectly titled result, Will & Harper, follows Farrell and Steele from the first, meaningful days when Farrell received a life- and friendship-changing email where...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 2/7/2024
- Screen Anarchy
Harper Steele is, with no exaggeration, one of my favorite comedy writers to ever do it. Not only did she write on "Saturday Night Live" from 1995-2015, the years when I was developing my own sense of humor, but she's also behind the Lifetime film "A Deadly Adoption" and the Academy Award-nominated Netflix flick, "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga." She was also a writer on the "Doug" episode "Doug's Cool Shoes," which has some of the best visual joke-telling of the animated series' first season. This is to say that Steele has been formative in shaping my ability to find humor in the world around me.
Over the years, Steele has become best friends with Will Ferrell, arguably one of the most recognizable comedic actors in the world. Ferrell and Steele are frequent collaborators, and their latest project is "Will & Harper," a documentary about the pair...
Over the years, Steele has become best friends with Will Ferrell, arguably one of the most recognizable comedic actors in the world. Ferrell and Steele are frequent collaborators, and their latest project is "Will & Harper," a documentary about the pair...
- 2/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Roughly 30 years ago, Will Ferrell was brought onto the cast of Saturday Night Live around the same time as Harper Steele was hired as a writer. The two became close collaborators, with Steele writing many of Ferrell’s most iconic characters and sketches. Their professional and creative partnership evolved into a decades-long friendship, and when Ferrell found out his dear friend was coming out as a trans woman, the two embarked on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage in their relationship. And thus, the story of Will & Harper begins.
Directed by Josh Greenbaum, the new documentary film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix.
“We are thrilled about how audiences received the movie with open arms at Sundance,” filmmakers told Netflix. “It’s a movie about the power of friendship and acceptance — that we hope can help shift the culture.”
Check...
Directed by Josh Greenbaum, the new documentary film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix.
“We are thrilled about how audiences received the movie with open arms at Sundance,” filmmakers told Netflix. “It’s a movie about the power of friendship and acceptance — that we hope can help shift the culture.”
Check...
- 2/1/2024
- by Amanda Richards
- Tudum - Netflix
“Will & Harper,” a heartfelt and heartbreaking documentary about Will Ferrell’s cross-country road trip with his best friend Harper Steele, who recently came out as transgender, sold to Netflix after its Sundance Film Festival debut. Financial terms of the pact were not disclosed, but “Will & Harper” was drawing interest from several buyers.
The film, directed by “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” filmmaker Josh Greenbaum, was warmly embraced in Park City with two standing ovations after the credits rolled.
“We are thrilled about how audiences received the movie with open arms at Sundance,” the filmmakers said in a statement. “It’s a movie about the power of friendship and acceptance, that we hope can help shift the culture, and so we are excited to have a partner in Netflix that has the ability to reach the largest possible audience worldwide.”
Ferrell and Steele were hired at...
The film, directed by “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” filmmaker Josh Greenbaum, was warmly embraced in Park City with two standing ovations after the credits rolled.
“We are thrilled about how audiences received the movie with open arms at Sundance,” the filmmakers said in a statement. “It’s a movie about the power of friendship and acceptance, that we hope can help shift the culture, and so we are excited to have a partner in Netflix that has the ability to reach the largest possible audience worldwide.”
Ferrell and Steele were hired at...
- 2/1/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Will & Harper, the doc about friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, has landed at Netflix in a massive eight figure deal.
The doc is about friends re-connecting after a major life event, and those friends just happen to be Ferrell and former Saturday Night Live head writer Steele. Following Steele coming out as a trans woman, the duo come together for a cross-country trip where they talk in-depth about their friendship and the experience of being trans in America.
Josh Greenbaum (Strays, Barb & Star Go to the Vista Del Mar) directs the doc that see Ferrell and Steele travel from New York to Los Angeles, stopping in dive bars, Walmart parking lots, random roadside attractions, and national parks along the way. During the trip, they talk to their famous friends, including Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Seth Meyers.
The Sundance premiere of the film included multiple standing ovations.
The doc is about friends re-connecting after a major life event, and those friends just happen to be Ferrell and former Saturday Night Live head writer Steele. Following Steele coming out as a trans woman, the duo come together for a cross-country trip where they talk in-depth about their friendship and the experience of being trans in America.
Josh Greenbaum (Strays, Barb & Star Go to the Vista Del Mar) directs the doc that see Ferrell and Steele travel from New York to Los Angeles, stopping in dive bars, Walmart parking lots, random roadside attractions, and national parks along the way. During the trip, they talk to their famous friends, including Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Seth Meyers.
The Sundance premiere of the film included multiple standing ovations.
- 2/1/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The last of the Sundance buzz titles has landed. Netflix closed an 8-figure deal for Will & Harper, the documentary in which Will Ferrell takes a road trip with his lifelong pal Harper Steele after the latter transitioned. Sources said deal was 8-figures.
In the Josh Greenbaum-directed docu, Ferrell finds out his close friend of three decades came out as a trans woman. Steele is a longtime comedy writer who helped Ferrell gain the confidence for his outlandish comedy on SNL and film comedy hits. All this was completely new territory for Ferrell, as it is for many people who believe in tolerance but just don’t understand. What a great opportunity to have the amiable Ferrell take a cross country road trip with his buddy, and ask every question and process this new stage of their relationship in a portrait of friendship, transition and America.
Seems like a perfect...
In the Josh Greenbaum-directed docu, Ferrell finds out his close friend of three decades came out as a trans woman. Steele is a longtime comedy writer who helped Ferrell gain the confidence for his outlandish comedy on SNL and film comedy hits. All this was completely new territory for Ferrell, as it is for many people who believe in tolerance but just don’t understand. What a great opportunity to have the amiable Ferrell take a cross country road trip with his buddy, and ask every question and process this new stage of their relationship in a portrait of friendship, transition and America.
Seems like a perfect...
- 2/1/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
When the Oscar nominations came out last week, the Best Documentary Feature category contained some bombshells: no recognition for two of the most decorated nonfiction films of the year.
In the latest edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, co-hosts John Ridley and Matt Carey drill down on the nominations, examining the snubs of American Symphony and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. And they explore why the Academy’s documentary branch, which determines the nominees, went for five internationally themed films, bypassing American-focused stories entirely.
Plus Carey, Deadline’s Documentary Editor, reports from the just-concluded 2024 Sundance Film Festival, talking with Best Director winners Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie of Sugarcane, Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey of the explosive series The Synanon Fix, EP Kerry Washington and two of the main participants in Daughters, Will Ferrell and Harper Steele of Will & Harper, and more.
Daughters, winner of both the Audience Award for U.
In the latest edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, co-hosts John Ridley and Matt Carey drill down on the nominations, examining the snubs of American Symphony and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. And they explore why the Academy’s documentary branch, which determines the nominees, went for five internationally themed films, bypassing American-focused stories entirely.
Plus Carey, Deadline’s Documentary Editor, reports from the just-concluded 2024 Sundance Film Festival, talking with Best Director winners Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie of Sugarcane, Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey of the explosive series The Synanon Fix, EP Kerry Washington and two of the main participants in Daughters, Will Ferrell and Harper Steele of Will & Harper, and more.
Daughters, winner of both the Audience Award for U.
- 1/31/2024
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
Sundance Film Festival ran from January 18-28 and, after a sluggish start, there were deals (click here for the latest), celebrity sightings, and a protest.
Christopher Nolan turned up to collect an honourary award at the festival’s opening night gala fundraiser and called the occasion a “full circle moment” 23 years after premeiring his breakout thriller Memento there back in 2001.
Kristen Stewart also attended the gala and starred in two films this year, while celebrity guests included Robert Downey Jr., Will Ferrell, and Malia Obama, who managed to attend somewhat under the radar with her short film The Heart credited to Malia Ann.
Christopher Nolan turned up to collect an honourary award at the festival’s opening night gala fundraiser and called the occasion a “full circle moment” 23 years after premeiring his breakout thriller Memento there back in 2001.
Kristen Stewart also attended the gala and starred in two films this year, while celebrity guests included Robert Downey Jr., Will Ferrell, and Malia Obama, who managed to attend somewhat under the radar with her short film The Heart credited to Malia Ann.
- 1/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: In a deal that when closed will be worth $15 million, Warner Bros Discovery has emerged as frontrunner to land the Sundance buzz title documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, sources said. The inspirational film is about the late actor best known for playing the Man of Steel. Docu’s focus is on how he found strength and purpose through activism after he was paralyzed in an equestrian accident. I believe that puts the film in precedent setting territory for a docu launched at Sundance. Numerous bidders have been in the mix, but I hear it’s likely to land at the home of the Superman film franchise.
The Sundance docu category is on fire, as numerous bidders also chase Will & Harper, the road trip between Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, after the latter surprised his pal he’d come out as a trans woman.
Super/Man is directed by Ian Bonhote,...
The Sundance docu category is on fire, as numerous bidders also chase Will & Harper, the road trip between Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, after the latter surprised his pal he’d come out as a trans woman.
Super/Man is directed by Ian Bonhote,...
- 1/27/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The sun is setting on the 2024 installment of the Sundance Film Festival, closing out a milestone 40th edition and leaving many headlines in its wake. Those included a whopping $17 million Netflix acquisition for a buzzy directorial debut, a pro-Palestine protest that shut down Main Street, a Sundance debut for a former first daughter, and the rise of standing ovations across Park City. If you weren’t able to make it out to the mountain, The Hollywood Reporter has rounded up what you missed.
Drawn Out or Dud Dealmaking?
Making an appearance as the moderator for the opening day press conference, Jason Blum, a festival veteran, offered an earnest plea for buyers: “The release schedule for the first half of the year is decimated, and I hope, particularly for theatrical distributors, that the market should be very, very healthy.” Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen. As with the past few years,...
Drawn Out or Dud Dealmaking?
Making an appearance as the moderator for the opening day press conference, Jason Blum, a festival veteran, offered an earnest plea for buyers: “The release schedule for the first half of the year is decimated, and I hope, particularly for theatrical distributors, that the market should be very, very healthy.” Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen. As with the past few years,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Chris Gardner and Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amazon MGM Studios is in final negotiations to acquire Megan Park’s sophomore feature “My Old Ass,” starring Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella, following its Sundance Film Festival debut.
The high-concept film — which was produced by LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, with Indian Paintbrush’s Steven Rales — made its world premiere on Saturday night in a sold-out screening at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, Ut. The deal is for roughly $15 million. It is one of a handful of high-profile Sundance movies that are fielding offers from several bidders, including “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper,” a road trip documentary with Will Ferrell and his best friend, Harper Steele.
Amazon MGM is targeting a wide theatrical release for the film in the U.S. and Canada, with international territories still to be determined. Like all of its titles, the ultimate home will be Prime Video.
The high-concept film — which was produced by LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, with Indian Paintbrush’s Steven Rales — made its world premiere on Saturday night in a sold-out screening at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, Ut. The deal is for roughly $15 million. It is one of a handful of high-profile Sundance movies that are fielding offers from several bidders, including “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper,” a road trip documentary with Will Ferrell and his best friend, Harper Steele.
Amazon MGM is targeting a wide theatrical release for the film in the U.S. and Canada, with international territories still to be determined. Like all of its titles, the ultimate home will be Prime Video.
- 1/26/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
There were a smattering of big sales and buzzy premieres, but as the 40th edition of Sundance ends, it’s impossible to ignore that the indie film business it champions is suffering from an identity crisis. The box office for art-house movies has yet to regain its pre-covid stride. Streaming services once inflated the prices for movies that debuted at the festival because they were desperate for content. Now they’re more conservative in their spending. In this era of economizing, the all-night bidding wars that made Sundance sizzle have become a thing of the past. That’s good for agents and filmmakers looking to get more shut-eye, but it’s not a great sign of the financial health of the industry.
Yet there was still plenty to celebrate. Movies like “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper” received emotional standing ovations, while “A Real Pain” and “It’s What’s Inside...
Yet there was still plenty to celebrate. Movies like “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper” received emotional standing ovations, while “A Real Pain” and “It’s What’s Inside...
- 1/25/2024
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Plot: Will Ferrell learns that one of his closest friends and collaborators is now trans. Unsure of the ground rules in the next stage of their relationship, the two drive from New York to Los Angeles together and reconnect.
Review: Will & Harper is a gentle, often hilarious documentary about two friends reconnecting after one comes out as trans. The fact that one of the friends is Will Ferrell made it a must-see for me at Sundance. But, it has a lot of resonance beyond its showbiz aspects, with it a nuanced portrait of a life in transition. It starts with essentially being about how the world views Ferrell’s friend, Harper, but eventually, it becomes more about how she views herself.
It’s a complex question because Harper Steele made her transition later in life, with her being sixty-one as the movie starts. She’s interesting, having been the...
Review: Will & Harper is a gentle, often hilarious documentary about two friends reconnecting after one comes out as trans. The fact that one of the friends is Will Ferrell made it a must-see for me at Sundance. But, it has a lot of resonance beyond its showbiz aspects, with it a nuanced portrait of a life in transition. It starts with essentially being about how the world views Ferrell’s friend, Harper, but eventually, it becomes more about how she views herself.
It’s a complex question because Harper Steele made her transition later in life, with her being sixty-one as the movie starts. She’s interesting, having been the...
- 1/25/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Long before she transitioned, Harper Steele was a writer at Saturday Night Live. She was hired in 1995, the same week that a performer named Will Ferrell joined the cast. Unlike his fellow Groundlings Chris Kattan and Cheri Oteri, who’d also been recruited from the L.A.-based improv group to join SNL that season, Ferrell had a hard time finding his groove right away. No one quite knew how to use this tall comedian with the deadpan stare and an ability to go from 1 to 1,000 on the rage scale in seconds flat.
- 1/23/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
When former SNL writer Harper Steele came out as trans, she told her friends and family via email. “I’m old now,” the letter said, “I’ll be transitioning to live as a woman.” In addition to announcing her plans, she also shared some of her anxieties about the process. Her fear was not about transitioning, but that she might lose some people that she loved.
Steele and her close friend Will Ferrell read the email at the top of their endearing documentary, Will & Harper. The film, directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar) chronicles a 16-day road trip the two friends take across America to process Steele’s transition, reflect on their friendship and consider what it means to be trans in America. On that last subject, the doc is well-meaning but shaky; traveling through some of the most hostile towns in the country...
Steele and her close friend Will Ferrell read the email at the top of their endearing documentary, Will & Harper. The film, directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar) chronicles a 16-day road trip the two friends take across America to process Steele’s transition, reflect on their friendship and consider what it means to be trans in America. On that last subject, the doc is well-meaning but shaky; traveling through some of the most hostile towns in the country...
- 1/23/2024
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the IndieWire team is endeavoring to take you into the heart of the festival experience, thanks to a series of rolling roundups that aim to synthesize each day, all the action, most of the drama, and the stuff everyone is talking about, in Park City and beyond.
Day Five
We’ll admit it: Day 5 at Sundance started on a bit of a slower note, at least over at IndieWire Editorial Condo No. 2, whose inhabitants were still processing both our (In)Famous Chili Party and/or Aaron Schimberg’s wild “A Different Man.” The first day after the festival’s opening weekend tends to spell a slower vibe, with many leaving after the first flush of premieres and parties, and Park City easing, ever so slowly, back into a more normal pace.
Though I’d already seen Richard Linklater’s sexy action comedy “Hit Man...
Day Five
We’ll admit it: Day 5 at Sundance started on a bit of a slower note, at least over at IndieWire Editorial Condo No. 2, whose inhabitants were still processing both our (In)Famous Chili Party and/or Aaron Schimberg’s wild “A Different Man.” The first day after the festival’s opening weekend tends to spell a slower vibe, with many leaving after the first flush of premieres and parties, and Park City easing, ever so slowly, back into a more normal pace.
Though I’d already seen Richard Linklater’s sexy action comedy “Hit Man...
- 1/23/2024
- by Kate Erbland, Ryan Lattanzio and Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Will Ferrell has some pretty cool friends. That shouldn’t come as any kind of surprise to his fans. He appeared on “Saturday Night Live” for seven seasons and still keeps in touch with co-stars like Seth Meyers, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig. Less familiar, but no less fascinating, is former “SNL” writer Harper Steele, who befriended Ferrell when he first joined the show, believing in the crazy cut-up when others were still skeptical of his talent.
Structured as an on-camera road trip between two longtime friends, fueled by laughs and tears and the occasional “Borat”-style stunt, “Will & Harper” gives the general public a chance to meet this incredible woman. Technically, Ferrell is meeting her for the first time, too, since Steele spent the first six decades of her life as a man. After receiving a long, vulnerable coming-out email from Steele describing her decision to transition at...
Structured as an on-camera road trip between two longtime friends, fueled by laughs and tears and the occasional “Borat”-style stunt, “Will & Harper” gives the general public a chance to meet this incredible woman. Technically, Ferrell is meeting her for the first time, too, since Steele spent the first six decades of her life as a man. After receiving a long, vulnerable coming-out email from Steele describing her decision to transition at...
- 1/23/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
There is an outstanding documentary film that just premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival called Will & Harper, featuring the iconic actor / comedian Will Ferrell and his friend Harper Steele. It's a road trip film, following the two as they embark upon a journey across the United States of America, from New York City to California. However, this film is much more important that just a road trip story. Will learned that his good friend had recently transitioned into a woman, and he didn't quite know how to deal with the situation properly. So he proposed this idea to her and they decide to get a documentary film crew to follow them along as they talk and drive and have a good time. It turned out wonderful. It feels like Will & Harper is a watershed moment for trans visibility and allyship. It may actually cause real change. It's an emotionally honest,...
- 1/23/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Unlike Cannes and Venice, Sundance isn’t a film festival that inspires too many standing ovations. But moviegoers at the Eccles Theatre were moved (more than once!) to stand up and applaud after the premiere of “Will & Harper,” a funny, heartbreaking and poignant documentary about Will Ferrell taking a road trip with his longtime friend, Harper Steele, who transitioned at 61.
“Look at this! And this is for a documentary,” Ferrell said as he greeted the packed house in Park City on Monday night. “Wow! If we were going to be at Sundance, we thought it would be at a 10 a.m. screening in someone’s garage.”
“Will & Harper” chronicles the duo over 17 days as they drive from New York to California, making pit stops at basketball games, dive bars, “swanky” Las Vegas restaurants and other places where Steele hopes to feel more comfortable since she came out as...
“Look at this! And this is for a documentary,” Ferrell said as he greeted the packed house in Park City on Monday night. “Wow! If we were going to be at Sundance, we thought it would be at a 10 a.m. screening in someone’s garage.”
“Will & Harper” chronicles the duo over 17 days as they drive from New York to California, making pit stops at basketball games, dive bars, “swanky” Las Vegas restaurants and other places where Steele hopes to feel more comfortable since she came out as...
- 1/23/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Director Josh Greenbaum was known as a documentary filmmaker before he shifted gears for “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” and with “Will & Harper” — a nonfiction buddy comedy in which Will Ferrell drives across the country with a beloved colleague — he returns to his nonfiction roots in order to confront a series of questions that seem as far from his comfort zone as they are from Ferrell’s. Questions like: How does a straight cis male of a certain age come to terms with the fact that one of his oldest friends has just come out as trans? And what will happen to their friendship when said trans woman refuses to stop for donuts?.
Of course, the more important character in this story is the much less famous — if equally titular — Harper Steele, the Emmy-winning “SNL” senior writer behind such gonzo Ferrell efforts as “EuroVision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
Of course, the more important character in this story is the much less famous — if equally titular — Harper Steele, the Emmy-winning “SNL” senior writer behind such gonzo Ferrell efforts as “EuroVision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
- 1/23/2024
- by Lauren Wissot
- Indiewire
Will Ferrell and longtime friend Harper Steele discussed the origins of their road-trip documentary Will & Harper at The Hollywood Reporter’s studio during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Ferrell and Steele have been best friends for 30 years and worked together at Saturday Night Live when they were both launching their Hollywood careers in comedy. Their new film documents the pair taking a cross-country road trip together following Steele coming out as a trans woman.
“The conception of the whole discussion, for some reason in my head, was a documentary,” Ferrell said. “Of course, I made it clear to Harper, ‘I don’t want to exploit our friendship, but this could, I think, be just a wonderful way for us to explore this topic. Obviously, for me to learn, ask all the questions that I have about what you’re going through and who you are, have you changed?'”
He continued,...
Ferrell and Steele have been best friends for 30 years and worked together at Saturday Night Live when they were both launching their Hollywood careers in comedy. Their new film documents the pair taking a cross-country road trip together following Steele coming out as a trans woman.
“The conception of the whole discussion, for some reason in my head, was a documentary,” Ferrell said. “Of course, I made it clear to Harper, ‘I don’t want to exploit our friendship, but this could, I think, be just a wonderful way for us to explore this topic. Obviously, for me to learn, ask all the questions that I have about what you’re going through and who you are, have you changed?'”
He continued,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Will Ferrell touched down at the Sundance Film Festival to world premiere the new documentary “Will & Harper,” which centers on the relationship between the beloved comedian and his best friend Harper Steele as they take a road trip. The two met during their days on “Saturday Night Live,” which Harper wrote for from 1995 to 2008. Harper came out as transgender in 2022.
“It was three summers ago in which Harper emailed a lot of her close friends with the headline: ‘Here’s a Weird One,'” Ferrell said at the Variety Studio presented by Audible. “She went on to explain she was going to transition and we were all of course excited to hear the news and surprised to hear the news. All of us were extremely supportive and expressed love…but that sort of opened the questions like, how can we help you? What do you need us to do?...
“It was three summers ago in which Harper emailed a lot of her close friends with the headline: ‘Here’s a Weird One,'” Ferrell said at the Variety Studio presented by Audible. “She went on to explain she was going to transition and we were all of course excited to hear the news and surprised to hear the news. All of us were extremely supportive and expressed love…but that sort of opened the questions like, how can we help you? What do you need us to do?...
- 1/22/2024
- by Zack Sharf and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Variety is returning to the Sundance Film Festival this year with its annual Interview Studio, presented by Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling. Throughout the festival, videos from the interview studio will be distributed across Variety.com as well as Variety and Audible’s social media channels.
Beginning Friday, January 19, running through Sunday, January 21, the Variety Studio, presented by Audible, will feature interviews with industry-leading directors and top talent from the films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Confirmed talent includes Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”); Jodie Foster, Alex Hedison, Alok Vaid-Menon (“Alok”); Lionel Richie, Bao Nguyen, Julia Nottingham (“The Greatest Night in Pop”); Kerry Washington, Angela Patton, Natalie Rae (“Daughters”); June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Clark Gregg, Josh Margolin (“Thelma”); Anna Fleck, Ryan Boden, Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorn, Ji-Young Yoo, Jack Champion (“Freaky Tales”); Richard Linklater, Glen Powell (“Hit Man”); Susanna Fogel,...
Beginning Friday, January 19, running through Sunday, January 21, the Variety Studio, presented by Audible, will feature interviews with industry-leading directors and top talent from the films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Confirmed talent includes Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”); Jodie Foster, Alex Hedison, Alok Vaid-Menon (“Alok”); Lionel Richie, Bao Nguyen, Julia Nottingham (“The Greatest Night in Pop”); Kerry Washington, Angela Patton, Natalie Rae (“Daughters”); June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Clark Gregg, Josh Margolin (“Thelma”); Anna Fleck, Ryan Boden, Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorn, Ji-Young Yoo, Jack Champion (“Freaky Tales”); Richard Linklater, Glen Powell (“Hit Man”); Susanna Fogel,...
- 1/17/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
When the Oscar shortlist of feature documentaries was announced in December, it was dominated by films that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival – films like Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, The Eternal Memory, Beyond Utopia and A Still Small Voice.
The shortlist announcement provided the latest evidence of the festival’s status as the prime launchpad for the best in documentary filmmaking – and whets the appetite for the upcoming 40th edition of Sundance, which starts Thursday.
In the new edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, we talk with Sundance programmers Basil Tsiokos and Sudeep Sharma about what to expect from the festival’s nonfiction lineup. They tell us about Will & Harper, a road trip movie with Will Ferrell and his close friend Harper Steele that explores their evolving relationship after Harper’s transition, and Super/Man, the film about Christopher Reeve that features the late star’s children.
The shortlist announcement provided the latest evidence of the festival’s status as the prime launchpad for the best in documentary filmmaking – and whets the appetite for the upcoming 40th edition of Sundance, which starts Thursday.
In the new edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, we talk with Sundance programmers Basil Tsiokos and Sudeep Sharma about what to expect from the festival’s nonfiction lineup. They tell us about Will & Harper, a road trip movie with Will Ferrell and his close friend Harper Steele that explores their evolving relationship after Harper’s transition, and Super/Man, the film about Christopher Reeve that features the late star’s children.
- 1/16/2024
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
Documentary lovers are digesting the announcement of the Sundance nonfiction lineup, a slate of films certain to factor in awards conversation into next Oscar season.
“I think there’s a lot of discoveries in there,” Sundance Senior Nonfiction Programmer Basil Tsiokos says of the lineup revealed on Wednesday. “It’s a nice blend of new filmmakers and alumni, lots of different kinds of approaches to filmmaking… There’s biodocs, but there’s also films that are political. There’s films that are dealing with the environment. There’s lots of other things happening, so it’s a nice mix we think.”
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele ‘in Will & Harper’
Among the most eye-popping titles are Will & Harper, Josh Greenbaum’s nonfiction road movie about comedian Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, his close friend of 30 years who came out as trans. “The two decide to embark on a cross-country...
“I think there’s a lot of discoveries in there,” Sundance Senior Nonfiction Programmer Basil Tsiokos says of the lineup revealed on Wednesday. “It’s a nice blend of new filmmakers and alumni, lots of different kinds of approaches to filmmaking… There’s biodocs, but there’s also films that are political. There’s films that are dealing with the environment. There’s lots of other things happening, so it’s a nice mix we think.”
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele ‘in Will & Harper’
Among the most eye-popping titles are Will & Harper, Josh Greenbaum’s nonfiction road movie about comedian Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, his close friend of 30 years who came out as trans. “The two decide to embark on a cross-country...
- 12/8/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on July 9th, 2020, reviewing the instant cult classic from Netflix, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.”
Rating: 4.0/5.0
“Eurovision” was released on June 26, 2020, on Netflix (after an intended May release was scrapped due to the pandemic). It features Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as a musical duo from Iceland called Fire Saga. They desire to pass the audition and be part of the Eurovision Song Contest, a real annual event (canceled this year) that introduced Abba and Celine Dion, among others. Fire Saga gets their shot, and the Will Ferrell style hilarity and heart filled songs follow. Also featuring Dan Stevens (“Beauty and the Beast”) as their Russian rival and the invincible Pierce Brosnan as the Ferrell character’s strict Dad.
“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is available on the Netflix streaming platform.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
“Eurovision” was released on June 26, 2020, on Netflix (after an intended May release was scrapped due to the pandemic). It features Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as a musical duo from Iceland called Fire Saga. They desire to pass the audition and be part of the Eurovision Song Contest, a real annual event (canceled this year) that introduced Abba and Celine Dion, among others. Fire Saga gets their shot, and the Will Ferrell style hilarity and heart filled songs follow. Also featuring Dan Stevens (“Beauty and the Beast”) as their Russian rival and the invincible Pierce Brosnan as the Ferrell character’s strict Dad.
“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is available on the Netflix streaming platform.
- 7/12/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
For some things, being a fan is almost like being part of a cult, it makes the utmost sense to you but not very much to others. And when it comes to the Eurovision song contest, it is one hell of a wild, weird, embracing and wonderful world to immerse yourself in. Arguably no movie can capture what Eurovision is because it is in itself magical, parodic and downright bonkers but in the unlikely and unexpected delight that is Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga we have a movie befitting of Eurovision.
Hailing from the town of Húsavík in Iceland, best friends since childhood Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) and Lars (Will Ferrell) have lifelong lofty dreams of not only entering but winning the Eurovision song contest and come 2020, call it fate, hope or a miracle but they get the chance to sing on the big stage for their country as duo Fire Saga.
Hailing from the town of Húsavík in Iceland, best friends since childhood Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) and Lars (Will Ferrell) have lifelong lofty dreams of not only entering but winning the Eurovision song contest and come 2020, call it fate, hope or a miracle but they get the chance to sing on the big stage for their country as duo Fire Saga.
- 7/6/2020
- by Jack Bottomley
- The Cultural Post
David Dobkin had no idea the Eurovision Song Contest even existed until the script by Will Ferrell and Andrew Steele landed on his desk. But the director of “The Judge” and “Wedding Crashers” fell in love with both the comedy about the international music competition — “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” — and the contest itself, founded in 1956.
The movie stars Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars and Sigrit, who see the contest as their big break. Dan Stevens, Demi Lovato and Pierce Brosnan also appear in the film, which bowed June 26 on Netflix.
To put together what Dobkin calls a love letter to the competition, albeit one with an off-kilter spin, he assembled a below-the-line team that included production designer Paul Inglis (art director for “Blade Runner 2049” and “Skyfall”), costume designer Anna B. Sheppard, editor Greg Hayden and music producer Savan Koetcha, who has worked with Lovato,...
The movie stars Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars and Sigrit, who see the contest as their big break. Dan Stevens, Demi Lovato and Pierce Brosnan also appear in the film, which bowed June 26 on Netflix.
To put together what Dobkin calls a love letter to the competition, albeit one with an off-kilter spin, he assembled a below-the-line team that included production designer Paul Inglis (art director for “Blade Runner 2049” and “Skyfall”), costume designer Anna B. Sheppard, editor Greg Hayden and music producer Savan Koetcha, who has worked with Lovato,...
- 7/1/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Last year we reported that Will Ferrell had signed on to star in a movie for Netflix entitled Eurovision.
The story is based on the "wildly popular and long-running international TV music competition The Eurovision Song Contest. It is a contest that began in Switzerland in 1956, when seven West European nations participated. This year 43 countries competed for the prize, won in Lisbon by Netta (Israel) performing the song Toy. Abba (winner in 1974 for Sweden) and Céline Dion (winner in 1988 for Switzerland) are among the former contestants who launched successful worldwide careers after their wins at The Eurovision Song Contest."
We already knew that Ferrell was writing the script alongside Andrew Steele, known for his time as writer and head-writer at SNL and his comedic collaborations with Ferrell in the past, writing the ridiculously hilarious The Spoils of Babylon, The Royal Wedding Live With Cord and Tish!, and the spoof Lifetime movie,...
The story is based on the "wildly popular and long-running international TV music competition The Eurovision Song Contest. It is a contest that began in Switzerland in 1956, when seven West European nations participated. This year 43 countries competed for the prize, won in Lisbon by Netta (Israel) performing the song Toy. Abba (winner in 1974 for Sweden) and Céline Dion (winner in 1988 for Switzerland) are among the former contestants who launched successful worldwide careers after their wins at The Eurovision Song Contest."
We already knew that Ferrell was writing the script alongside Andrew Steele, known for his time as writer and head-writer at SNL and his comedic collaborations with Ferrell in the past, writing the ridiculously hilarious The Spoils of Babylon, The Royal Wedding Live With Cord and Tish!, and the spoof Lifetime movie,...
- 3/11/2019
- by Jessica Fisher
- GeekTyrant
Netflix‘s original content just keeps coming. And the streaming giant isn’t stopping anytime soon. The service just announced a new original film with one of the biggest names in comedy anchoring the project. Will Ferrell is slated to star in the Netflix film “Eurovision,” a comedy he will co-write with Andrew Steele.
Continue reading Will Ferrell To Write And Star In Music Competition-Inspired Feature ‘Eurovision’ For Netflix at The Playlist.
Continue reading Will Ferrell To Write And Star In Music Competition-Inspired Feature ‘Eurovision’ For Netflix at The Playlist.
- 6/19/2018
- by Julia Teti
- The Playlist
Netflix has announced that they have a song in their heart for comedian Will Ferrell, as the streaming giant has just landed a deal for the SNL alum to star in Eurovision, a comedy film based on the uber-popular and long running international TV music competition The Eurovision Song Contest. In addition to starring in the pic, Ferrell will also co-write the script with Andrew Steele. The Eurovision...
- 6/18/2018
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
There is one less source for late-night laughter. TV Land has cancelled its Throwing Shade TV show after only one season. Hosted by Parks and Recreation's Erin Gibson and Superstore's Bryan Safi, the comedic late-night comedy program was inspired by the podcast and Funny Or Die video series of the same name. The first season of the Throwing Shade TV series just premiered on TV Land in January of 2017 and ran for 10 episodes. Gibson and Safi executive produced with Funny Or Die’s Andrew Steele, Anna Wenger and Joe Farrell, as well as Charlie Siskel, who also served as show-runner. Read More…...
- 11/17/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Let's hear it for the writers!
The Writer's Guild of America held their annual awards show on Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Donald Glover's breakout series, Atlanta were among those recognized for their achievement of the written word.
Read on below to see the full list of winners.
More: John Legend, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda Among 2017 Oscars Performers
Film Winners
Original Screenplay
Moonlight, Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; A24
Adapted Screenplay
Arrival, Screenplay by Eric Heisserer; Based on the Story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang; Paramount Pictures
Documentary Screenplay
Command and Control, Telescript by Robert Kenner & Eric Schlosser, Story by Brian Pearle and Kim Roberts; Based on the book Command and Control by Eric Schlosser; American Experience Films
Television And New Media Winners
Drama Series
The Americans, Written...
The Writer's Guild of America held their annual awards show on Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Donald Glover's breakout series, Atlanta were among those recognized for their achievement of the written word.
Read on below to see the full list of winners.
More: John Legend, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda Among 2017 Oscars Performers
Film Winners
Original Screenplay
Moonlight, Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; A24
Adapted Screenplay
Arrival, Screenplay by Eric Heisserer; Based on the Story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang; Paramount Pictures
Documentary Screenplay
Command and Control, Telescript by Robert Kenner & Eric Schlosser, Story by Brian Pearle and Kim Roberts; Based on the book Command and Control by Eric Schlosser; American Experience Films
Television And New Media Winners
Drama Series
The Americans, Written...
- 2/20/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The Writers Guild Awards and the Academy writing nominees always don’t line up; many films are ineligible. This year, those included Oscar-writing nominees “Lion” and “The Lobster.”
This year, the WGA and the Academy differed dramatically. While the WGA deemed “Moonlight” and “Loving” as Original Screenplays, the Academy considered both as Adapted; only “Moonlight” landed a nomination.
At the WGA, as at the BAFTAs, Barry Jenkins’ script for “Moonlight” competed for the Original Screenplay Award against both Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea” and Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land.” Unlike the BAFTAs, Jenkins emerged the winner over Lonergan, a sign of strength for “Moonlight,” which is nominated for eight Oscars.
Read More: Yes, Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ Really Will Win Director and Picture Oscars — Here’s Why
However, in the Oscars’ Original Screenplay contest, lauded playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Lonergan (“You Can Count On Me,...
This year, the WGA and the Academy differed dramatically. While the WGA deemed “Moonlight” and “Loving” as Original Screenplays, the Academy considered both as Adapted; only “Moonlight” landed a nomination.
At the WGA, as at the BAFTAs, Barry Jenkins’ script for “Moonlight” competed for the Original Screenplay Award against both Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea” and Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land.” Unlike the BAFTAs, Jenkins emerged the winner over Lonergan, a sign of strength for “Moonlight,” which is nominated for eight Oscars.
Read More: Yes, Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ Really Will Win Director and Picture Oscars — Here’s Why
However, in the Oscars’ Original Screenplay contest, lauded playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Lonergan (“You Can Count On Me,...
- 2/20/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Exclusive: Fox has landed Operation Prince Of Freedom, a spec script package for a comedy that will be helmed by Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates director Jake Szymanski. Chernin Entertainment will produce with Gary Sanchez. The script is by Michael Kvamme and Jordan Dunn, and Gary Sanchez’s Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Kevin Messick and Andrew Steele will produce with Chernin. Fox has had success with the hard R comedy in Deadpool and Kingsman: The Secret Service and this…...
- 9/29/2016
- Deadline
[caption id="attachment_47593" align="aligncenter" width="590"] via YouTube/caption]
TV Land enters the late night comedy fray. The cable channel has ordered a first season of ten episodes of the Throwing Shade TV series, hosted by Parks and Recreation's Erin Gibson, and Superstore's Bryan Safi. Watch a preview, below.
Throwing Shade is inspired by the podcast and Funny Or Die video series of the same name. Throwing Shade is slated to premiere in January 2017. The TV Land show will be executive produced by Gibson and Safi, as well as Funny Or Die's Andrew Steele, Anna Wenger and Joe Farrell, and Charlie Siskel ("Review," "Tosh.0") will executive produce and serve as showrunner.
Read More…...
TV Land enters the late night comedy fray. The cable channel has ordered a first season of ten episodes of the Throwing Shade TV series, hosted by Parks and Recreation's Erin Gibson, and Superstore's Bryan Safi. Watch a preview, below.
Throwing Shade is inspired by the podcast and Funny Or Die video series of the same name. Throwing Shade is slated to premiere in January 2017. The TV Land show will be executive produced by Gibson and Safi, as well as Funny Or Die's Andrew Steele, Anna Wenger and Joe Farrell, and Charlie Siskel ("Review," "Tosh.0") will executive produce and serve as showrunner.
Read More…...
- 4/18/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Viewers can refamiliarize themselves with ‘The Spoils Before Dying’ when Anchor Bay releases the IFC comedy mini-series on June 7 on DVD. The home release was announced after Season 2 of the ‘Spoils’ franchise premiered on the cable television network on July 8, 2015. ‘The Spoils Before Dying’ includes six half-hour episodes, and is the second book based on fictional famous author Eric Jonrosh’s first best-selling epic novel, ‘The Spoils of Babylon.’ The mini-series features an all-star cast, including Michael Kenneth Williams, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig and Haley Joel Osment. The second season was produced by Funny Or Die, and Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Nate Young, Andrew Steele and Matt [ Read More ]
The post Witness The Spoils Before Dying When the IFC Mini-Series is Released on DVD appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Witness The Spoils Before Dying When the IFC Mini-Series is Released on DVD appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/29/2016
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
Hoff the Record: Dave, 9pm
Unfortunately, tonight marks the end of the series for David Hasselhoff's mockumentary.
Hoff is invoiced by a charity but due to needing money agrees to co-star with Christopher Biggins in a panto instead. Travelling to meet his new co-star, Hoff is confused to find a child in the car.
Safeword: ITV2, 10pm
New comedy panel gameshow hosted by Rick Edwards. Tonight, he's joined by Joey Essex, David Haye, Andrew Maxwell and Tiff Stevenson.
Each week, celebrity guests get their social media pages scrutinised for embarrassing information, which is then left open for the other celebrities to mock. The only way to make this stop is by using their safeword...
The Spoils Before Dying: Fox UK, 10:30pm
Matt Piedmont and Andrew Steele's follow-up to The Spoils of Babylon features an all-star cast including Kristen Wiig, Haley Joel Osment and Maya Rudolph.
Writer-turned-director...
Unfortunately, tonight marks the end of the series for David Hasselhoff's mockumentary.
Hoff is invoiced by a charity but due to needing money agrees to co-star with Christopher Biggins in a panto instead. Travelling to meet his new co-star, Hoff is confused to find a child in the car.
Safeword: ITV2, 10pm
New comedy panel gameshow hosted by Rick Edwards. Tonight, he's joined by Joey Essex, David Haye, Andrew Maxwell and Tiff Stevenson.
Each week, celebrity guests get their social media pages scrutinised for embarrassing information, which is then left open for the other celebrities to mock. The only way to make this stop is by using their safeword...
The Spoils Before Dying: Fox UK, 10:30pm
Matt Piedmont and Andrew Steele's follow-up to The Spoils of Babylon features an all-star cast including Kristen Wiig, Haley Joel Osment and Maya Rudolph.
Writer-turned-director...
- 7/23/2015
- Digital Spy
Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig's Lifetime movie A Deadly Adoption is heading across the pond to Channel 5.
The film - a knowing wink to the Us network's melodramas - will air on the channel on July 5 at 10pm.
Also starring 90210 star Jessica Lowndes, A Deadly Adoption is due to air on Lifetime in the Us later this month, and marks the 25th anniversary of Lifetime's TV movie strand.
Funny or Die and mockbuster filmmaker Rachel Lee Goldenberg has directed the film, while Ferrell - a self-confessed fan of Lifetime TV movies - is also an executive producer.
It was written by The Spoils of Babylon's Andrew Steele.
Back in April, it was reportedly that the movie had been scrapped by Ferrell and Wiig, but the rumours were dismissed after a huge billboard was unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard.
It was recently announced that Ferrell will star in Lasse Hallström's upcoming comedy Tom's Dad.
The film - a knowing wink to the Us network's melodramas - will air on the channel on July 5 at 10pm.
Also starring 90210 star Jessica Lowndes, A Deadly Adoption is due to air on Lifetime in the Us later this month, and marks the 25th anniversary of Lifetime's TV movie strand.
Funny or Die and mockbuster filmmaker Rachel Lee Goldenberg has directed the film, while Ferrell - a self-confessed fan of Lifetime TV movies - is also an executive producer.
It was written by The Spoils of Babylon's Andrew Steele.
Back in April, it was reportedly that the movie had been scrapped by Ferrell and Wiig, but the rumours were dismissed after a huge billboard was unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard.
It was recently announced that Ferrell will star in Lasse Hallström's upcoming comedy Tom's Dad.
- 6/24/2015
- Digital Spy
Thank you, Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig, for A Deadly Adoption, the "Sabotage" video of Lifetime movies. Ever since the duo had announced they were doing this, it's been clear they set out to make a real Lifetime movie, not a parody. So A Deadly Adoption is a glorious two-hour love letter to the network's flicks and those of us who live for them. Every mega-cheese trope is here, from the opening credits (an aerial shot of a lake house!) to the final words, "Inspired by a true story." So...
- 6/22/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Most of the reactions I saw roll by in my social media timelines this weekend to the film "A Deadly Adoption" were along the lines of, "What the hell did I just watch?" I can understand the confusion. And it's awesome. "A Deadly Adoption" aired Saturday on Lifetime, and it is, by any metric you want to use, a completely typical Lifetime movie. What makes it stand out is that the film stars Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig, and there's nothing about the film at any point that would tip that this is meant as a joke. The film opens with a party being thrown by Robert (Ferrell) and his wife Sarah (Wiig), during which Robert casually remarks about how they're going to have to fix the dock soon, just about the time Sarah walks down to stand on the dock no matter what Robert says. She's six months pregnant,...
- 6/21/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Are they serious? That was the question the Internet pondered after posters for Lifetime’s latest trash TV movie, A Deadly Adoption, began appearing. What were we to make of these comically ominous ads with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig doing their best stone faces? Lifetime’s marketing department insisted the former SNL-ers were playing it straight (or at least as straight as any Lifetime movie is capable of being). But it really only took a quick glance at the film’s IMDb page — which credits Funny or Die and The Spoils of Babylon’s Andrew Steele as teleplay writer — to
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- 6/21/2015
- by Keith Uhlich
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
var bc_params = {"api":"hybrid","playerId":"88218671001","playerKey":"Aq~~,AAAAAAAn_zM~,B6LaFUvNnt2RhwK5cjOvZ4hHQyd5XXC9"}; brightcove.createExperiences();Read More: Miniseries Spoof 'The Spoils of Babylon' Is An Affectionate Ode to '70s Bloat From IFC and Funny or Die "SNL" writers Andrew Steele and Matt Piedmont are bringing back the hardboiled detective genre in their new IFC miniseries "The Spoils Before Dying." The sequel to the Emmy-winning miniseries "The Spoils of Babylon" will follow a 1950s jazz pianist who gets wrapped up in a murder investigation. The pianist-turned-investigator will be played by Michael K. Williams ("Boardwalk Empire"), and his various cohorts and suspects are made up of a star-studded cast including Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Hayley Joel Osment, Michael Sheen, Kate McKinnon and other big comedy names. The six-part saga will air as a three-night comedy series on IFC with two back-to-back half hour.
- 6/16/2015
- by Sarah Choi
- Indiewire
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