Right after “Despicable Me 4,” another Will Ferrell film seemed inevitable, but who knew a heartfelt documentary about acceptance and friendship would be what we would get? Directed by Josh Greenbaum, who directed the award-winning documentary “The Short Game,” the new doc “Will & Harper” is about, as the title and plot suggest, Ferrell and Harper Steele’s friendship conveyed through a seventeen-day road trip through the United States (read our review here).
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But it’s obviously about more than just friendship. Steele, who was once a “SNL” writer who wrote for Ferrell and wrote many of his films, suddenly reaches out to Ferrell to let him know he’s begun a journey to transition to a woman. Ferrell surprised but not unempathetic, calls his friend and asks if he’d like to go on a road trip, film it as a doc, and unpack both their friendship and the emotional decisions that led Steele to decide to become the person they always were meant to be.
The documentary stars Ferrel and Steele respectfully. Hollywood legend Ferrell, who is still a part of blockbuster films even this year, returns again, this time in a more straightforward and different format, moving to the documentary area of cinema this time. Steele, a Primetime Emmy-winning writer, also goes to the roots of the documentary here.
“Will & Ferrell” is directed by Greenbaum, director of “Strays” and, in 2025, the sequel to the 1987 classic “Spaceballs.” It was produced by Ferrell, Greenbaum, Jessica Elbaum, Christopher Leggett, and Rafael Marmor. The cinematography was done by Zoë White. The editing was done by Monique Zavistovski. The music was composed by Nathan Halpern.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Three years ago, Will Ferrell was filming a movie when he received a most surprising email: his dear friend of nearly 30 years was coming out to him as a trans woman. That friend was Harper Steele, a writer he met on his first day at Saturday Night Live back in 1995. From that fateful first meeting in the halls of 30 Rock, Will knew he had found a match made in comedy, and their friendship and creative partnership would only continue to grow over the next three decades. In this intimate, honest, and heartfelt documentary, Will and Harper hit the open road together to process this new stage of their friendship and reintroduce Harper to the country that she loves – this time, as herself. Over 16 days, the two drive from New York to LA, visiting stops that are meaningful to them, to their friendship, and to America. Through laughter, tears, and many cans of Pringles, they push past their comfort zones as they re-examine their relationships to these spaces and to each other in this new light.
The documentary premiered at Sundance on January 22, 2024. A month after its Sundance premiere, in February, Netflix received the distribution rights. It will play at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival as its international premiere.
“Will & Ferrell” seems to be one of the most expected Oscar doc contenders for 2024. If Netflix had a chance to win the Best Documentary Oscar next time, this one could be their best bet. “Will & Harper” is being distributed by Netflix and will premiere at the TIFF, which begins on September 5, 2024, and globally on September 27, 2024. Watch the new trailer below.