EXCLUSIVE: Although no official decision has been made yet, sources say Deadline New Line is the favorite for the package based on the biography The Chris Farley Show with Paul Walter Hauser for the role of the legendary comedian. The pitch is based on the book by Farley’s brother Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby and is adapted by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber and directed by Josh Gad. Lorne Michaels, who found and hired Farley Saturday Night Live in the 90s, produced by his Broadway video.
The studio had no comment.
Based on the biography of Farley’s brother Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby – insiders say the family gave their blessing to the project – the film would tell the story of one of the greatest comedians of his generation. Making its beginning in the heyday of Saturday Night Live, where Farley would join an all-time ensemble SNL Greats like Adam Sandler, David Spade, Phil Hartman and Rob Schneider. From the start, Farley stood out for his great physical comedy, delivering iconic sketches like his “Van Down by the River” rendition as motivational speaker Matt Foley or his tryout as a Chippendales dancer with resident Patrick Swayze SNL Tradition.
His success on the show would also translate to the big screen, where Farley would soon star in hit films like ” Tommy Boy, black sheep And Beverly Hills Ninja. After being sober for three years, he relapsed and fell back into drugs and alcohol until he died of an overdose in 1997 at the age of 33. His death shocked not only the industry but all film and comedy lovers and immediately drew comparisons to those around him SNL alum John Belushi, who also died far too early.
For Hauser, this is the type of role he has been aiming for, as his career skyrocketed following his spectacular role as Tonya Harding’s bodyguard in 2017 Me, Tonya. Lead roles in “Clint Eastwood” followed. Richard Jewell and most recently his star role in Black bird, which earned him an Emmy.
As for Gad, this would be a big step for him as the actor takes his first step into the directing industry, taking on the story of someone who has certainly inspired his own comedic ambitions over the years.
Neustadter and Weber’s long list of credits includes The Disaster Artist, The Fault in Our Stars And (500 days of summer.
Hauser is repped by CAA, Artists First and Schreck Rose Dapello; Gad is represented by CAA, Sugar 23, ImPRint and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; Farley and Colby are represented by Verve; Broadway Video is represented by CAA; and Neustadter and Weber are represented by UTA and Kaplan/Perrone.