Will Ferrell began crying Sunday night as director Josh Greenbaum hailed the love he and former Saturday Night Live writer Harper Steele bring to the screen in their new Netflix film Will & Harper.
In the film, Ferrell reconnects with his long-time friend, who for the first 61 years of her life lived as a man. Moving forward with a determination to be her most authentic self, Steele is invited by Ferrell to road trip across the U.S. With cameos from Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and Kristen Wiig, Greenbaum’s film is equal parts joyful and poignant. The tenderness of the pair’s relationship is moving and palpable as the pair navigate their friendship — and Harper, her newfound womanhood — through the various stops along the way.
“I don’t wanna make a mistake, I don’t want to ask in the wrong way,” Ferrell confessed during a Q&A at a London preview of the film. “We just wanted to capture a conversation between two friends, and just bring it down to that level that hopefully the audience can listen to me stumble my way through asking my dear friend these questions… She allows me to make those mistakes and encourages me to ask away.”
There were some not-so-dry eyes in the room when Greenbaum paid tribute to Ferrell and Steele for their participation. “I have such a love for him, for both of these people, it was a gift that I got to express it in a film.
“But I just hope [Ferrell] continues to get all the love that he deserves,” Greenbaum continued. “Because he’s put so much good out in the world. And we often sometimes take for granted comedians who give us joy and love throughout our whole lives and make our day-to-day a lot easier, so I hope he feels that.” As Ferrell wiped away tears, Steele lightened the heartfelt moment and joked: “What is this bullshit?”
Steele spoke about being emotional herself while in London after Ferrell said the trio have stopped at Sundance, Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals. “I was in London shooting a film with Will right before the pandemic, about the Eurovision Song Contest,” she said. “And I was right on the cusp of this experience, but this was a difficult period for me in London. And walking around London, going to get my [U.K. bakery chain] Greggs sausage as myself, finally, it was just so much joy. Thank you.”
Ferrell was asked about his highlights from the 16-day trip with Steele. “Every day there was a highlight,” he said. “We try to make each other laugh all the time. And the highlights ranged from Harper showing us photos of herself on a unicycle, the way she used to get around Iowa City, only to be in front of her childhood house and this young person to come up on a unicycle… Insane.”
“And even though they didn’t recognize me,” he continued, prompting laughter from the BFI Southbank audience, “Then Harper gets on and rides this unicycle in heels. Between that and our chance encounter at the Grand Canyon with a retired therapist who is trying to make amends for a situation she didn’t feel like she knew how to handle and Harper giving her comfort. Me getting to surprise Harper at a pool with my speedo… So many highlights.”
Will & Harper, which premiered at Sundance in January, will be available to stream on Netflix Sept. 27. It will also be released in select theaters on Sept. 13.