Will Ferrell’s Lifetime Movie With Kristen Wiig Surprised His Team: ‘I Woke Up One Day…’
When Will Ferrell’s name is mentioned in conversations, it’s typically because of his comedic gems. He’s given the world Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Talladega Nights, Anchorman, Zoolander, Elf, and more.
Stepping into a serious drama is not out of Ferrell’s reach, but it is a rare find. That’s why when he decided to tackle a Lifetime movie role, people didn’t know if his intentions were to create a spoof or kill time. Even Ferrell’s team batted an eye of disbelief.
Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig starred in 2015 Lifetime film
Lifetime has its special brand of cinematic classics where the plot gives itself away in the title. When Ferrell and fellow Saturday Night Live alum Kristen Wiig teamed up for their own movie on the network, they stuck to the formula. A Deadly Adoption — billed as a “based on a true story” flick — aired in 2015.
The film featured Ferrell and Wiig as a married couple who take in a pregnant woman (played by Jessica Lowndes) with plans to adopt the child. Of course, things go left.
Though Ferrell and Wiig performed it straight and without a hint of comedy, viewers and critics were unsure whether it was pure satire. It lives on as one of Ferrell’s most unconventional projects, and he loves it. According to Deadline, he told a crowd at the 2017 ATX Festival that it was “one of my favorite things I’ve ever made, partly because it completely baffles maybe 80 percent of the audience.”
Ferrell also said he went to the salon and asked them to dye his beard so it wouldn’t match his hair for the role. Perfect.
Ferrell explains how his team was against ‘A Deadly Adoption’
As part of his new cover feature in The Hollywood Reporter, Ferrell reflected on his track record of surprising fans — and the people who work with him. He discussed his royal wedding coverage segment and alluded to his penchant for off-the-wall ideas. “I love just kind of keeping everyone on their toes,” said Ferrell.
“I woke up one day with Lifetime on, and I thought, ‘Wait a minute, wouldn’t it be funny if you saw me and maybe another known comedy person do a Lifetime movie and just play it straight? Yeah, got to do that,’” he said.
Initially, Ferrell’s team was not on board with the idea. Would it be worth it? According to THR, it was easy recruiting Wiig. She jumped at the opportunity and noted that her co-star’s “Why not?” attitude made it effortless to say yes. These days, the president of his production company keeps track of all his zany pitches and files them away for a later date.
Fans can still watch Ferrell’s Lifetime movie
Though it’s difficult to find the film on demand via Lifetime, fans can access it through MarVista Entertainment. The production company behind A Deadly Adoption has a link available for streaming. Ferrell and Wiig are 100% dramatic actors in this one, so don’t expect any cheeky jokes or puns. It’s the Lifetime way.
