John C. Reilly, Steve Coogan Sign On for Laurel & Hardy Biopic

By: Caryn Robbins Jan. 18, 2016

Screendaily.com reports that Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly (CHICAGO) have signed on to portray the iconic comedy team of Laurel and Hardy ina new biopic from BBC Films. Written by Philomena's Jeff Pope (Philomena) the film will be set during the duo's 1953 final UK tour.

Jon S. Baird will helm the project which will feature Reilly as Laurel and Coogan as Hardy.

Coogan, star of Philomena and Alan Partridge, will play Stan Laurel while John C. Reilly, known for his roles in Chicago and WE NEED TO TALK About Kevin, will portray Oliver Hardy. Titled STAN & OLLIE, the project is also being developed by Faye Ward's Fable Pictures and Jeff Pope's Sonesta Films.

Commented screenwriter Pope, "When I watch their movies, in my head it is forever a Saturday morning and I am six years old watching the TV at home utterly spellbound. I am aware of the huge responsibility of bringing their characters to life, but I have not treated the boys with kid gloves or looked at them through rose coloured specs. They are living and breathing characters, with flaws and shortcomings."

He continued, "The research into this story threw up so many details and facts that I had no idea about. But everything I have done has come from a place of love and more than anything else I hope this shines through."

According to the site, the story will follow " Laurel & Hardy, the world's favourite comedy double act, who set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. As they set out, crisscrossing the country, attendances are disappointingly low. But they've always been able to make each other laugh and as the charm and beauty of their performances shines through their audiences laugh too, and they re-connect with legions of adoring fans, old and new.

The tour becomes a hit, but Laurel & Hardy can't quite shake the spectre of Stan and Ollie's past; and long buried ghosts, coupled with Oliver's failing health, start to threaten their precious partnership. A portrait of their creative marriage begins to unfold as the duo, aware that they may be approaching their swan song, try to rediscover just how much they mean to each other."

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi