Will Ferrell is reuniting withWedding Crashersdirector David Dobkin for a new comedy at Netflix. The two are pairing up for the comedy movie titledEurovisionthat will center on the long-running and popular singing contest of the same name that has been running for more than 60 years. To sweeten the pot just a bit, frequent Ferrell collaborator Adam McKay is on board as an executive producer.
According to a new report,Will Ferrellis signed on to not only star in, but also co-writeEurovisionalongside Andrew Steele. Some of Steele’s previous credits includeFunny or Die Presents…and serving as the head writer onSaturday Night Livefor a spell. Steele also penned Ferrell’s 2012 Spanish comedyCasa de mi Padre. There is no indication currently as to who Ferrell is going to play in the movie. Though, given that final scene inStep Brothers, we can only hope he’s going to play a hopeful contestant in the competition. For now, the creative team and Netflix are keeping the larger plot details under wraps.
David Dobkinis best known for directingWedding Crashers, the 2005 comedy that stars Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. Will Ferrell memorably starred in a minor role in that movie as Chazz, the man who invented the art of wedding crashing. Dobkin has also directed a number of music videos for artists such as Maroon 5, Coolio and 2Pac. Some of his other movie credits includeShanghai Knights,The Change-UpandFred Claus. His most recent effort was the 2014 dramaThe Judge, which starred Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall. Dobkin worked with Netflix in a limited capacity previously, as he directed an episode ofIron Fist.
Will Ferrell is one of the top comedic talents in the business, but he’s been on something of acold streak recently, having starred in movies likeZoolander 2,Daddy’s Home Twoand, most unfortunately,Holmes and Watson. However, he tends to do his best work with Adam McKay. Even though McKay isn’t directing, the two previously collaborated on movies such asAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Step Brothersand the criminally underratedThe Other Guys. Having McKay on board in any capacity is a credit to the project.
TheEurovisionSong Contest is the longest-running annual international TV song competition, with the first contest held in Switzerland in 1956. Like many singing competitions, few of its winners go on to achieve major success beyond the contest, however, it has produced a couple of major hit-makers in the past. ABBA won the contest in 1974, representing their home country of Sweden, while Celine Dion took home the prize in 1988 for Switzerland. There is no word currently on how soon production could ramp up onEurovision, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted as further details are made available. This news was first reported byVariety.
