An exciting new biopic project appears to be in the works focused on comedian Chris Farley. Specifically, it will be based on The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts. The project also already has a star and director attached.
According to Deadline, where the project was first reported, the film “is being shopped with Paul Walter Hauser attached to play the iconic late comic and actor.” As for the director attached, it turns out that “Josh Gad will direct with Lorne Michaels, who found and cast Farley in Saturday Night Live in the ’90s, producing through his Broadway Video.” They outlet adds that it “will be sold as a pitch based on the book with Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber penning the script.”
Here’s what else the outlet had to share about the story the film is based on:
“Based on the biography by Farley’s brother Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby — insiders say the family has given their blessing to the project — the film would tell the story of one of the great comic actors of his generation. Getting his start in the heyday of Saturday Night Live, where Farley would join an all-time ensemble of SNL greats including Adam Sandler, David Spade, Phil Hartman and Rob Schneider.”
They also remind readers some of his most memorable SNL performances:
“From the start, Farley stood out with his great amazing physical comedy, delivering iconic sketches like his ‘Van Down by the River’ performances as motivational speaker Matt Foley or trying out as a Chippendales dancer with Patrick Swayze that live in SNL lore.”
Hopefully we’ll have more details on the project soon. It’s definitely an interesting combination to have both Paul Walter Hauser and Josh Gad attached. Especially with this no doubt being a major stepping stone for their respective careers.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding the Chris Farley biopic as we have them. If the project stays true to the book and the life of Chris Farley, then fans could certainly be in for a very interesting time.