Will Ferrell is no stranger to the sports spoof, with “Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby,” “Blades Of Glory,” and “Semi-Pro” hitting theaters in back-to-back-to-back years in the 2000s. One could even say that particular trend of the actor’s career started in 2005 with “Kicking And Screaming,” but that soccer comedy isn’t exactly a spoof. At least not a spoof like “The Hawk,” a new Netflix series premiering next month that stars Ferrell as a washed-up golf pro looking for one last win.
It’s well-tread territory for Ferrell, certainly, but the ten-episode series should delight fans of the actor’s comedy. Ferrell stars in the series as Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, whose prime years on the professional circuit are behind him, and his son is the new hero of the sport. But even though everyone else except him knows he’s washed up, Lonnie still has his eyes on an accolade that still eludes him: completing golf’s Grand Slam.
Here’s an official synopsis for “The Hawk,” courtesy of Netflix:
Lonnie Hawkins, (Will Ferrell) 2004’s number one golfer, struggles on the back nine of his career to recapture his magic. His body says retire, but his heart says he’s not done yet. His ex-wife and his son Lance, golf’s new golden boy, know he’s through. But with one more major to win to complete golf’s Grand Slam, Lonnie refuses to believe he’s anything other than one stroke away from the greatest comeback in golf history.
Along with Ferrell, “The Hawk” also stars the likes of Ferrell’s fellow “SNL” alums Molly Shannon and Chris Parnell, as well as Jimmy Tatro, Fourtine Feimster, Luke Wilson, Katelyn Tarver, and David Hornsby.
Ferrell creates and executive produces “The Hawk,” his first TV comedy. Jessica Elbaum and Alix Taylor also executive produce for Gloria Sanchez Productions, alongside Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman, and Nena Rodrigue for T-Street, and Chris Henchy, Harper Steele, David Gordon Green, and Andrew Guest. The PGA TOUR is also a producing partner on the series.
As he’s wont to do, Ferrell has on been on the PGA tour in character as Hawkins this Spring and early Summer to promote “The Hawk,” making appearances at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst, NC, to the Hamptons on Long Island, to the Travelers Championship in Connecticut. Will the promotional tour be enough to win over golf fans for a series that lampoons their sport? It’s Ferrel, after all, who’s an acquired taste, so we’ll see what happens.
All ten episodes of “The Hawk” premiere on Netflix on July 16. Watch a trailer for the sports comedy series below.
