The life and legacy of beloved Saturday Night Live comedian Chris Farley is set to be chronicled in a new biopic, with Cobra Kai star Paul Walter Hauser tapped to portray the late entertainer.
Directed by Frozen actor Josh Gad in his feature debut, the as-yet-untitled project will adapt the 2008 biography The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts, co-written by Farley’s own brother, Tom Farley Jr. Oscar and Emmy-nominated writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber have been enlisted to pen the screenplay.
Farley, who rose to fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995, went on to star in hit comedies like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep alongside his frequent collaborator David Spade. Tragically, the larger-than-life performer passed away in 1997 at just 33 years old due to a drug overdose.
The upcoming biopic, which is currently being shopped to potential buyers, has the full blessing of Farley’s family. This stands in stark contrast to previous attempts to bring the story of another beloved SNL alum, John Belushi, to the screen. The 1989 Belushi biopic Wired, starring Michael Chiklis, was met with significant backlash from the comedian’s loved ones.
In casting Hauser, the filmmakers appear to have found an actor well-suited to capture Farley’s boisterous comedic stylings. The Golden Globe and Emmy winner is known for his scene-stealing turns in projects like I, Tonya, Richard Jewell, and the hit Karate Kid sequel series Cobra Kai.
Directing the biopic is Josh Gad, the versatile actor and writer best known for voicing the lovable snowman Olaf in Disney’s Frozen franchise. Gad’s involvement, coupled with the guiding hand of legendary SNL producer Lorne Michaels as a producer, suggests the film will strive to honor Farley’s irreverent spirit and immense talent.
With production details still to be finalized, fans of Farley’s uproarious brand of comedy will no doubt be eagerly awaiting further updates on this long-overdue cinematic tribute to one of the most beloved performers of his generation. By drawing from a respectful source in the form of Farley’s brother’s biography, this new biopic appears poised to capture the essence of the comedy icon in a way that previous efforts have failed to achieve.
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