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EXCLUSIVE: Following their 2018 critically acclaimed hit Stan & Ollie, Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are reuniting for The Players, a comedy based on the rivalry between 1800s thespians Edwin Forrest and William MacCready. Two-time Academy Award nominee Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) is directing the project from a script penned by Stan & Ollie and Philomena writer Jeff Pope.
The Players, which is set to begin production later this year/early next year in Europe, is set in 1847 New York, where Edwin Forrest (Reilly) holds the undisputed title as the country’s top Shakespearian actor. Playing magnificently to a sold out, raucous crowd every night, Edwin is “The Star”. But when critically celebrated English thespian William MacCready (Coogan) arrives from London to perform his sophisticated Hamlet, Edwin’s title is thrown into jeopardy. Each man wants what the other has, and the rivalry between them starts a hilarious and unforgettable battle of egos.
Protagonist Pictures is launching international sales on the project ahead of AFM, with CAA Media Finance repping U.S. rights. It’s produced by Ben Pugh, Ben Cavey, Tim Cole and Josh Horsfield for 42. Executive producers include Pope, Coogan, Protagonist Pictures’ Dave Bishop, George Hamilton, James Pugh and 42’s Josh Varney.
Cattaneo, Coogan, Pope and 42 recently collaborated on The Penguin Lessons, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this year where it was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Based on a script by Pope, that film was produced by 42, directed by Cattaneo and starred Coogan and Jonathan Pryce.
“The multi-talented Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly have reunited for this wildly funny, bigger than life battle of egos,” Bishop said of The Players. “Their chemistry is undeniable and, with the wit and comedy bursting from every page of Jeff’s script, and Peter’s artful direction behind the camera, this is set up to be a tremendous crowd pleaser.”
Coogan is best known for creating and portraying British icon media personality Alan Partridge. He also co-wrote, produced and starred opposite Dame Judi Dench in Philomena, which earned him a BAFTA award for Best Adapted Screenplay. More recently, he starred in Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux and Despicable Me 4.
Reilly’s credits range from comedic roles in films such as Step Brothers and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy as well as Gangs of New York, We Need To Talk About Kevin and The Lobster. His role in biopic Stan & Ollie, which chronicled the later years of renowned comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, earned him Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award nominations.
Cattaneo is best known for directing comedic drama The Full Monty, a massive global success, earning four BAFTA awards and four Oscar nominations. Additional credits include Lucky Break and Military Wives.
Pope’s script for Philomena, which he co-wrote with Coogan, earned him an Oscar nomination as well as the BAFTA award for Best Adapted Screenplay, His script for Stan & Ollie also earned him BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.
Management and production banner 42 has an upcoming slate that includes: thriller The Bet for Warner Bros.; Andrew Sodroski’s thriller Off Seasons for Apple TV+; and Rupert Wyatt’s Boxman for Lionsgate.
Coogan is repped by Independent Talent Group and CAA. Reilly is repped by CAA, Framework Entertainment and Gendler, Kelly & Cunningham. Cattaneo is repped by 42 and UTA. Pope is repped by United Agents and WME Entertainment.
