It looks like Jason Reitman‘s “SNL 1975” won’t be the only upcoming movie to tackle the legendary late-night show. Deadline reports that biopic “The Chris Farley Show” is being shopped around to studios with Paul Walter Hauser attached to play the legendary “SNL” cast member. Josh Gad is also on board to direct. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber co-write the film’s script, based on Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby‘s 2009 biography of the same name.
READ MORE: ‘SNL 1975’: Jason Reitman’s Upcoming Comedy Adds Ella Hunt, Emily Fairn & Kim Matula
And Gad & co. have Lorne Michaels‘ blessing to make the Farley biopic, with the “SNL” founder producing the film through his Broadway Video. They have Farley’s family’s blessing, too, as Chris’ brother Tom co-wrote the biography. The film will follow Farley’s tenure on Michael’s late-night show as he joins one of the greatest “SNL” ensembles, including friends Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, and the late Phil Hartman. Thirty years on, some of Farley’s skits remain classics, including his Chippendale’s dancer opposite host Patrick Swayze and Farley’s motivational speaker Matt Foley. Farley died unexpectedly in 1997 of a drug overdose, at the height of his fame.
It’s not the first time Neustadter and Weber tackle a real-life comedy legend in a script. The pair also teamed up to co-write 2017’s “The Disaster Artist,” a comedy about the making of Tommy Wiseau‘s “The Room.” Other writing credits for the two include “(500) Days Of Summer” and “The Fault In Our Stars.” As for Gad, “The Chris Farley Show” will be his feature directorial debut.
Chris Farley is easily the biggest role of Hauser’s career so far. Is he a good fit to play the comedy legend? That’s up for debate, but Farley was a one-of-a-kind presence on “SNL” and beyond, with inimitable energy and charisma. Let’s hope neither “The Chris Farley Show” or “SNL 1975” disparage the legacy Lourne Michaels helped build.
