
Will Ferrell confirms he will return to Broadway with stage musical adaptation of his 2020 Eurovision movie
Will Ferrell has confirmed he will return to Broadway with a stage musical adaptation of his 2020 film 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'.
The 56-year-old actor and comedian, best known for his roles in 'Elf' and 'Anchorman', is co-writing the Broadway script for the musical with Harper Steele and Anthony King.
Will was quoted in Variety saying: 'We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway. The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.'
The original film starred Will and Rachel McAdams as aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir, who dream of representing their country at the Eurovision Song Contest.
It featured original songs such as 'Ja Ja Ding Dong', 'Lion of Love', and the Oscar-nominated ballad 'Husavik'.
The new stage version is being developed with music by Savan Kotecha, and will be directed by 45-year-old Alex Timbers, whose previous Broadway credits include 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical', 'Beetlejuice', 'Here Lies Love' and 'Gutenberg! The Musical!'.
Alex said: 'Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are my comedy heroes. And when I first saw their joyful movie 'Eurovision' during the pandemic, it buoyed spirits during a very dark time. With this stage adaptation, I can't wait to bring that same mix of heart, spectacle, irreverence and awe to audiences across the world.'
No cast or production dates have yet been confirmed by producers.
Will previously made his Broadway debut in 2009 with the one-man show 'You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush'. He also co-wrote 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga' alongside Andrew Steele.
The new project has the backing of the real Eurovision Song Contest.
Martin Green, managing director of the event, said: 'This is a stellar team for what I am sure will be an equally stellar adaption of a film the world loved. Our aim always is to bring the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest to more people globally.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Seth Rogen calls directing Martin Scorsese the 'worst thing in the world'
Seth Rogen has admitted directing Martin Scorsese in The Studio was the "worst thing in the world". The actor stars in and directs the Apple TV Plus series in which he plays the head of a movie studio and it's featured cameos from industry titans including Goodfellas director Scorsese, Ron Howard, Anthony Mackie, Zoe Kravitz, Olivia Wilde and Zac Efron - and Rogen has now admitted he was "nervous" working with big name stars on his project. In an interview with Jason Segel for Variety, Rogen explained: " I'd say half of them [the cameos] were people I didn't know at all. We wanted people you haven't seen us with before. "Martin Scorsese, we just sent it to his manager. I'd met Zoe Kravitz once or twice. I met a lot of these people in passing. I'm sure you have at a party." When asked if he was "intimidated" to direct people like Scorsese, Rogen replied: "It was the worst thing in the whole world. We were shooting the show in such a specific way that I was so nervous it would be creatively rejected. " In the show, his character Matt Remick is often desperate for directors and actors to like him and worries about making them angry - and Rogen admits he's a lot like Matt in many ways. He added: "The character is me in many, many ways. And the crux of the character is that he doesn't want to let down his idols. "And that's one of the biggest things that I'm navigating: Whenever I get anyone to come do a thing we're doing, I'm so aware of how upset I'll be if they think it's bad. " Segel went on to add of Scorsese: "I did meet Martin Scorsese once. I met him at the Golden Globes, and we peed next to each other at the urinals. But I had the kids' one and he had the tall one. So everything about it was just way off. That's a great memory." Rogen the added: "He's a little guy." Rogen previously admitted he's had plenty of pushback from industry pals after he used their real life experiences as inspiration for The Studio. He told Vanity Fair magazine: "I think more [often] people have not wanted to accept that we have based things off of them, rather than claiming that we have based things off of them. "If anything, people are like: 'That's not me though.' But I think in general they really see that it comes from a place of love."

News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Beloved Harry Potter star reprises iconic role
A familiar wand is being dusted off – and the wizarding world is buzzing. After nearly 15 years away from the role that made him a household name, a beloved Harry Potter star is stepping back into the spotlight – but not in a way fans might expect. Tom Felton, best known for his icy portrayal of Draco Malfoy is officially returning to the franchise – this time on stage, in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The actor, now 37, portrayed the beloved blonde bully in the Harry Potter movies from 2001 until 2011. He shared the exciting news on the US Today show on Thursday morning, saying, 'Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honours of my life. 'Joining this production will be a full-circle moment for me, because when I begin performances in Cursed Child this fall, I'll also be the exact age Draco is in the play.' Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, based off a screenplay written by J. K. Rowling, takes place 19 years after the original series ended. First debuting in London's West End in 2016, It follows the children of Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Draco as they head off to Hogwarts. 'It's surreal to be stepping back into his shoes – and of course his iconic platinum blond hair – and I am thrilled to be able to see his story through and to share it with the greatest fan community in the world,' he added. In a clip posted by Felton, the actor can be seen slipping into black robes and adorning his hands with the notable Slytherin signet ring. He then repeats his iconic phrase, 'Scared, Potter?' before the words 'Draco is back' flash onto the screen. The clip, which has gathered nearly 3 million views in less than 12 hours, has naturally sent nostalgic fans into a frenzy. 'Is this a dream or what?!,' said one excited viewer. 'I'm sorry, what?! Currently screaming,' wrote another. 'I screamed,' said a third. Felton has remained closely tied to the franchise since the films wrapped up in 2011, frequently attending fan events and reflecting on his time in the wizarding world through interviews and his 2022 memoir, beyond the wand. Tom will join the cast in November and star in the New York show for 19 weeks, concluding his run in March 2026. The casting comes after Felton's on-screen father in the films, Jason Isaacs, scored the role of a lifetime in the beloved The White Lotus series. Starring as disgraced financier Timothy Ratliff, the audience closely followed his dark storyline as he grappled with financial ruin during a family trip to Thailand.


Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Hugh's ex ‘disturbed' by new flame's shock act before split
Hugh Jackman's ex-wife was left 'extremely disturbed' by the actions of his now-girlfriend Sutton Foster in the lead up to her marriage breaking down, it has been revealed. An insider claims Broadway star Foster attempted to befriend Deborra-Lee Furness — even proposing to go on double dates with her and Hugh. Furness, 69, is reportedly furious with Foster's bid to get close and now, in hindsight, sees it as a red flag. She 'cannot forgive' Foster, the insider said, and wants her to accept her share of the blame for the break-up. 'The fact that Sutton used to go on double dates and tried so hard to befriend Deb is extremely disturbing to her,' the insider told the Daily Mail. 'She will never have anything to do with Sutton. 'Deb is friends with Sutton's ex and they both share a deep sense of betrayal.' Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness in happier times. Credit: Kristian Dowling / Getty Images Jackman and Furness announced their shock split two years ago. Foster filed for divorce from her screenwriter husband Ted Griffen last year. It is believed Jackman and Furness' marriage began to unravel during COVID and collapsed after Jackman and Foster starred together in the hit Broadway revival of The Music Man from 2021 to 2023. Furness filed for divorce on May 23 and has since been open about her heartbreak. 'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,' she said in a statement released to Daily Mail. 'It's a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working for us.'This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage. 'It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.' Furness is now reportedly planning to publish a tell-all 'divorce diary'. 'Deb's been desperate to have her side of the story out there,' a source told Woman's Day. 'She's been writing down all her thoughts, the good and the bad, and logging every detail of this ugly roller-coaster divorce. 'As soon as her lawyers allow it, she will be talking to publishers about a deal.' Jackman is yet to release a statement about the divorce but is believed to be 'extremely disappointed' in Furness' allegations about 'betrayal'.