The much-anticipated biopic chronicling the life of lateSaturday Night LivestarChris Farleyhas taken a substantial step forward, according to recent statements from actorPaul Walter Hauser, who is set to portray Farley. Hauser, renowned for his roles inI, TonyaandRichard Jewell, shared that the project has bagged support from New Line Cinema, and the scripting is at an advanced stage.
Josh Gadwill make his directorial debut with this project, which is based on “The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts” byTom Farley Jr.andTanner Colby. The screenplay for the biopic is crafted byScott NeustadterandMichael H. Weber, both acclaimed for their work on500 Days of SummerandThe Fault in Our Stars. Whilst speaking onJake’s Takesabout his new filmThe Luckiest Man in America, Hauser shared a positive update on the Farley project, saying:
“We’re waiting on the greenlight from Warners Bros. New Line Cinema is already like, ‘Heck yeah.’ We have an amazing screenplay.The script only got better and better. Every time we gave a round of notes, the script came back, and it was just likebetter than we even imagined.So, as far as I’m concerned, things ready to go. We’re just waiting on Warner Bros.”
Chris Farley rose to fame as a standout performer onSaturday Night Livein the 90s with hilarious depictions of characters such as the Lunch Lady, the Chippendales dancer, andmotivational speaker Matt Foley. Arguably the golden era ofSNL, Farley shone alongside otherSNLstars likeAdam Sandler,Chris Rock,andDavid Spade, all of whom would go on to do bigger things. Farley himself would also dabble into acting, starring in films such asTommy Boy,Airheads, and was even the original lead inShrekprior to his death. Before his tragic passing in 1997, Farley was set to play silent film star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle in a biopic.
Paul Walter Hauser Is Bracing Himself for an Intense Role
The narrative arc of thebiopicis expected to have Hauser mirror the comedic genius that was Farley and also portray the lesser-known personal struggles that defined Farley’s private life as he battled with weight issues and drug addiction. Speaking onJake’s Takes,he acknowledged he was gearing up to take on the role armed with the knowledge that interpreting his on-screen persona was the easy bit. He also revealed he was yet to commence preparation for the role because he knows how “psychologically intense” playing Farley would be. According to him, he’d rather hold off preparation until two or three months to the official production start date.
The project has received the blessing of the Farley family, underscoring its commitment to an authentic and respectful portrayal of the comedian’s life. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the project.
The Luckiest Man in America
Source:Jake’s Takes
