Comedian, actor, and Saturday Night Live icon Chris Farley died in 1997, but his legacy endures in his sweeping career and the ever-accumulating tributes other comedians pay to his style. Now, a biopic dedicated to Farley is in the works, with some big names already attached to the project.
Establishing himself as a member of Chicago’s Second City Theatre and SNL, Farley was known for his bombastic delivery. He kicked off his career in 1986 and in just a little over 10 years, he gave memorable performances in Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, as well as Airheads, Beverly Hills Ninja, and more. Farley was all of 33 years old when he died.
A Chris Farley biopic is in the works with some big names attached to it
Josh Gad is set to direct the upcoming Chris Farley biopic, with Paul Walter Hauser taking up the starring role. By time of writing, Variety reports that there is no indication about where it will land, but the outlet anticipates plenty of bidders. Lorne Michaels is serving as the producer; it was SNL creator and producer Michaels who recruited Farley for the sketch comedy show in 1990. Farley would go on to appear in a hundred episodes. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber are in charge of screenwriting.
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Gad is primarily known for his acting, which has earned him fans from multiple generations. His work in The Book of Mormon earned Gad a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, as well as a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Younger generations know him as the voice of Olaf in the Frozen franchise and Le Fou in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
As for Paul Walter Hauser, he doubles as an actor and a professional wrestler, with a mastery over comedic delivery and character acting. He had supporting roles in I, Tonya, BlacKkKlansman, Last Night, and Cruella. Hauser gained national regard for a standout performance in 2019’s Richard Jewell, directed by Clint Eastwood. His performance as Larry Hall in the 2022 miniseries Black Bird saw Hauser win both a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
This upcoming project is getting some strong negative reactions from fans
On top of solid power behind the director and lead actor, the biopic is also derived from strong source material. It will be based on The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts, a best-selling biography by Tom Farley Jr., Chris Farley’s brother.
Not sure PWH has the athleticism that was a trademark of Farley's style.
— Jack Liu (Baconradar) (@SombreJ7845) April 12, 2024
Many fans of Farley, however, are having strong reactions to the news. One Twitter user admitted, “Having Josh Gad attached makes me not want to watch it.” Another critiqued the casting choice, asserting, “Only ever saw dumb, slow, and quiet characters from Paul.”
Another Farley fan outlined, “I don’t know, man, some things should just be left alone.” Similarly, one nostalgic fan felt, “Chris Farley was such a comic icon of my adolescence I can’t escape his image and imagine anyone playing him in a film. Feels like a pass.”
Farley’s family is aware of the project, with biography co-author Tom Farley announcing the news on April 12. “They started shopping it around Hollywood this past week,” he also confirmed.
Farley’s life was colored by struggle as much as it was by success, as he contended with alcoholism, obesity and drug addiction. Farley’s final appearance on SNL in 1997 was as a first-time host, with the sketch centering around the concept of his wild party days and volatile health. In the cold open, Lorne Michaels worried over Farley’s ability to host. His flushed appearance and hoarse voice became a popular topic of scrutiny. It is with this in mind that one Twitter user argued against the biopic, saying, “Why? Let him rest in peace. Hollywood wasn’t the greatest to him now you’re going to resurrect him with someone who doesn’t even have the personality or flow.”
