When “A Deadly Adoption” landed as an (almost) surprise movie on Lifetime two years ago, no one knew what to make of it. The film, starring Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig, was a very specific spoof on Lifetime‘s usually over-the-top dramas, directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg (“Escape From Polygamy,” “Love at the Christmas Table,” “Toddlers and Tiaras: Where Are They Now?”) who is well versed in that world, with a script by Andrew Steele (“Spoils Of Babylon“) who knows good satire. It came and went and didn’t make much of a ripple, but according to Ferrell, its a career highlight.
At the ATX Television Festival, the actor admitted that the $700,000 production wasn’t exactly polished or for everyone — “If you’re sitting in this audience thinking, ‘This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen,’ I can’t argue with you.” — but he treasures it, even if everyone around Ferrell and Wiig weren’t sure what the hell they were doing.
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“We said, ‘We expect you to say no,’ and they kept saying yes. They’re in on it now, at the time they had no idea what was going on,” he said about the network executives. And even the agents of the stars didn’t really understand why they wanted to make it.
“[My agent] was very disappointed that we got to make it,” Ferrell revealed, adding that he told Wiig and their co-starJessica Lowndes, “You know we won’t get paid at all. Maybe breakfast will be served and you’ll be dressing in your car. That’s why Kristen Wiig is a genius. She’ll do something like that and not even think twice.”
The result is one that Ferrell loves, describing it as, “my little tribute to Andy Kaufman” and “one of my favorite things I’ve ever made, partly because it completely baffles maybe 80 percent of the audience.”
If you haven’t seen “A Deadly Adoption,” maybe now’s the time to track down one of Ferrell’s wackier offerings. [Deadline]