John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan have found their next project. The duo will star in The Players, a new Shakespeare comedy movie inspired by the rivalry between Edwin Forrest and William MacCready.
Reilly and Coogan previously collaborated on 2018’s Stan & Ollie. The comedic biopic explored the comedic acts of Stanley “Stan” Laurel (Coogan) and Oliver “Ollie” Hardy (Reilly) during the 1950s. Coogan was nominated for a BAFTA, while Reilly received a Golden Globe nod.
Reilly is best known for his comedic work in Step Brothers and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. For his role in Chicago, he received a supporting actor nomination at the Oscars. His notable recent work includes playing Jerry Buss in the TV show Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
Coogan is an English comedian best known for creating the fictional media personality Alan Partridge. Coogan received Oscar nominations in Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Philomena. Recently, Coogan appeared in Joker: Folie à Deux as TV personality Paddy Meyers.
Who is involved in The Players?
Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) will direct The Players from a script written by Jeff Pope (Stan & Ollie). Production is set to begin in early 2025 in Europe.
“1847 New York, where Edwin Forrest (Reilly) holds the undisputed title as the country’s top Shakespearean actor. Playing magnificently to a sold out, raucous crowd every night, Edwin is ‘The Star,’” per Deadline’s synopsis. “But when critically celebrated English thespian William MacCready (Coogan) arrives from London to perform his sophisticated Hamlet, Edwin’s title is thrown into jeopardy. Each man wants what the other has, and the rivalry between them starts a hilarious and unforgettable battle of egos.”
Ben Pugh, Ben Cavey, Tim Cole, and Josh Horsfield will produce. Executive producers include Coogan, Pope, Dav Bishop, George Hamilton, James Pugh, and Josh Varney.
(Source: Deadline)