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Will Ferrell Esports Media

Will Ferrell set to star in eSports comedy

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By Kyle O'Brien, Creative Works Editor

December 7, 2016 | 2 min read

Will Ferrell has tackled comedy in many sports realms in his movies and online videos. He’s been a race car driver, a basketball player and an ice skater, among others. Now, Ferrell is getting behind the controller as a gamer in a yet-to-be-titled eSports comedy for Legendary Entertainment.

Ferrell will play a gamer who is a member of a professional eSports team. The comedy comes from Ferrell being a much older player in a young person’s game, much of it due to slower hand-eye coordination, according to a story in Variety. It will mine the same type of humor as Ferrell’s sports comedies, like Talledega Nights and Semi-Pro.

Evil Geniuses and Fnatic, two of the top eSports teams in the world, are in discussions to be a part of the film.

The script by Michael Kvamme and Jordan Dunn will be produced by Gary Sanchez and Mosaic and distributed by Universal.

Legendary is known for such blockbusters as Jurassic World and Straight Outta Compton, as well as television shows Colony and Judd Apatow’s Love.

Now, eSports are on the rise around the globe. Cash prizes and sponsorships can launch careers and earn millions for players as young as 15. They continue to rise in popularity and rights to games are earning big contracts, as a recent deal with Major League Baseball and Riot Games proves. The Drone Racing League also is making huge strides in the eSports world, having recently announced a simulator series to bring more fans and players into the fold.

With the rise of eSports, it’s ripe for skewering, and Ferrell seems to be the perfect guy to bridge the gap between young players and older enthusiasts. Ferrell is currently working on the Sony comedy Holmes and Watson with longtime collaborator John C. Reilly.

Will Ferrell Esports Media

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