Will Ferrel Finally Arrives; Places Ass in Director’s Chair

Posted by Conrad Rothbaum (conrad@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 5, 2008

Well, it looks like Will Ferrel has finally arrived.

In an interview with Coming Soon, Danny McBride of the upcoming films Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder couldn’t resist dropping this little bomb: Will Ferrel is making his directorial debut with an episode of “Eastbound and Down,” a new HBO Show which he is also producing with Danny McBride.

“This is going to be the beginning for him. It’s going to be exciting,” McBride gushed. “That dude has fucking insane instincts, and he knows his shit. Will would come up with ideas in the scenes, and we’d be like, ‘God that’s such a great way to do that’ and I fully trust that he’ll be able to come in and knock it out.”

Will Ferrel is set to co-direct the episode with Adam McKay, who directed Will in Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and, most recently, Stepbrothers. Other directors for the show include Jody Hill (The Foot Fist Way) and David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, among other things).

“Eastbound and Down” is a dark comedy set to shoot in the fall and premiere on HBO in June (perhaps). Apparently it will follow the example of British comedies with its small scale and Apatow/ McKay comedies with its improv-based structure, and it will undoubtedly feature many, many guest appearances from A-List comedy actors.

Hmmm. An dark comedy on HBO with an improvisational structure and numerous celebrity cameos. Sound familiar?

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