Deadline is reporting that a film adaptation of a Chris Farley biography is in the works, with Paul Walter Hauser attached to play the legendary comedian and actor.
Alongside Hauser, the report also notes that Josh Gad is set to direct with Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels attached to produce the project through his Broadway Video studio.
The script will be based on Tom Farley and Tanner Colby’s 2009 book The Chris Farley Show: A Biograpahy In Three Acts, which chronicles Farley’s life, including his battle with addiction that would ultimately end up leading to a drug overdose in 1997.
Farley became a legendary comedian in the 1990s
Farley is best known for his run as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, where he appeared from 1990-1995 alongside stars Adam Sandler, David Spade, Phil Hartman, and more. Farley’s most popular characters on the show included motivational speaker Matt Foley who lived in a “van down by the river,” a Chippendales dancer, a lunch lady, and more.
Following his time on SNL, Farley would begin a brief film career, which included roles in Wayne’s World and Wayne’s World 2, Billy Madison, and Coneheads. Farley also starred in two cult classic comedy films, 1995’s Tommy Boy and 1996’s Black Sheep, both of which co-starred David Spade alongside Farley.
For Hauser, the role would be his next following two starring roles in 2024’s Orion and the Dark and Inside 2, which sees the actor lend his voice to two parts. Most recently, Hauser’s biggest role came in the Apple TV+ true crime drama series Black Bird, where he played convicted serial killer and rapist Larry Hall. For his role, Hauser won the 2024 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
As for Gad, the movie would mark his directorial debut in the feature film world. Gad has had a number of high-profile roles throughout his career, including playing Olaf in Disney’s Frozen movies, appearing as Le Fou in the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, and even having a successful Broadway career, having played Elder Arnold Cunningham in the original cast of The Book of Mormon.
