Will Ferrell in talks to play Russ Meyer in Russ & Roger Go Beyond

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

There are so many great points to this story I don’t even know where to begin, let's just do it. Will Ferrell is reportedly circling the role of provocative film director Russ Meyer for RUSS & ROGER GO BEYOND which chronicles the relationship between Meyer and Roger Ebert. It’s known by most people who bothered to check out Ebert’s resume that he actually had a screenplay credit; he and Russ Meyer developed and produced 1970’s BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. I’ve seen the movie, it’s schlock theater at its best (or is it worst?) and having recently watched LIFE ITSELF, the great documentary about Roger Ebert, I was reminded about the movie.

RUSS & ROGER GO BEYOND which is penned by The Simpsons and SNL writer Christopher Cluess will follow their path to getting Dolls made, including the ratings board controversy surrounding the film’s X rating. The project is gaining momentum now that Ferrell is said to be interested as well as a few filmmakers as Deadline reports that that Edgar Wright is “intrigued”. If Ferrell does sign on, producers are hoping to start shooting next year.

It all sounds too good to be true at this point; do you know how crazy the making of BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS must have been? Edgar Wright and Will Ferrell could only work magic with a story like this. Although Wright seems to be competing with Guillermo del Toro for how many projects they can say their doing; he’s got BABY DRIVER and GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE lined up. So at this point nothing is official expect that this project is firmly on top of my dream list.

Who do you think should play Ebert?

Source: Deadline

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