David Farnor | On 12, Jun 2020

Netflix is bringing its own Eurovision Song Contest to the world this summer, with a new comedy starring Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan and Dan Stevens.

Called Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga, it follows aspiring musicians Lars (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams), who are given the opportunity of a lifetime to represent their country at the world’s biggest song competition. They finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for – and impress Lars’ father (Brosnan), the most handsome man in Iceland, and beat Alexander Lemtov (Stevens), a Russian rival.

Directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, The Judge) and written by Ferrell and Andrew Steele, and with Graham Norton on board playing himself, the stage is set for what might be the Eurovision fix we all need this year, after BBC One’s own celebration of the contest. The film premieres on Netflix on 26th June. Here’s the trailer – or read on below for the music video for Fire Saga’s worryingly plausible entry.

 

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.

 

Watch: Netflix’s Eurovision Song Contest entry: Volcano Man

15th May 2020

This weekend would have seen the Eurovision Song Contest take place, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans will be left somewhat wanting – unless, that is, they have Netflix.

Yes, the streamer’s stepping up to deliver its own take on Eurovision this summer with the comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

The film stars Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir. When they are given the opportunity of a lifetime to represent their country at the world’s biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.

The duo are joined on-screen by Pierce Brosnan as Erick Erickssong, Lars’ father and the most handsome man in Iceland, and Dan Stevens as Alexander Lemtov, a Russian contestant in the contest. Directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, The Judge) and written by Ferrell and Andrew Steele, the stage is set for what just might be the alternative Eurovision entertainment the world needed (for more on BBC One’s official Eurovision evening plans, click here).

Because yes, just in time for when the contest would have been staged in Rotterdam, Netflix has released the music video for Lars and Sigrit’s song, Volcano Man, which is (whisper it) actually rather good. The film is released on Netflix on 26th June – when you can expect more of Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in over-the-top make-up and saying words like “Volcanic Protector Man”.

Here’s the video:

 

Dan Stevens joins Will Ferrell and Pierce Brosnan in Netflix’s Eurovision

20th August 2019

Netflix’s Eurovision party just got an unexpected Guest star with Dan Stevens joining the cast.

The comedy, simply titled Eurovision, will see Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams play aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir. When they are given the opportunity of a lifetime to represent their country at the world’s biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.

The film’s already a tantalising prospect thanks to the casting of Mamma Mia and 007 veteran Pierce Brosnan as Erick Erickssong, Lars’ father, “the most handsome man in Iceland”. Now, though, he’s got some competition in the good-looks stakes, with Stevens set to co-star as Alexander Lemtov, a Russian contestant in the Eurovision song contest.

The film is directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, The Judge) and written by Ferrell and Andrew Steele. Production is currently underway in the UK and Iceland.

 

Pierce Brosnan joins Netflix Eurovision comedy

8th August 2019

Pierce Brosnan has joined Netflix’s Eurovision comedy.

The film, simply titled Eurovision, will see Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams play aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir. When they are given the opportunity of a lifetime to represent their country at the world’s biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.

If the prospect of that duo entering the European song contest wasn’t enticing enough, though, they’ve now been joined by the Mamma Mia and 007 veteran. He will play Erick Erickssong, Lars’ father, who is described officially as “the most handsome man in Iceland”.

Directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, The Judge), the film is written by Ferrell and Andrew Steele, with Ferrell also producing via his Gary Sanchez Productions alongside Jessica Elbaum and Chris Henchy. Adam McKay is on board as Executive Producer.

The film is currently in production in the UK and Iceland.

 

David Dobkin to direct Netflix’s Eurovision comedy

8th March 2019

David Dobkins will direct Netflix’s Eurovision comedy.

The film, which was announced last year, stars Will Ferrell and is set around The Eurovision Song Contest, TV’s longest running annual international music competition. The 63rd edition of the competition had its finale in Lisbon last year, with Israel’s song, Toy, performed by Netta, crowned the winner. The first contest was held in Switzerland in 1956 with seven West European nations participating. Last year, 43 countries competed for the prize, as the show has grown to become a global phenomenon with fans all over the world. It has even kicked off music careers, with former contestants including ABBA (winner in 1974 for Sweden) and Céline Dion (winner in 1988 for Switzerland).

Ferrell was already attached last year to write as well as star, with Andrew Steele on co-scripting duties. Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum and Chris Henchy will produce through their Gary Sanchez Productions banner, with Adam McKay on board as executive producer. Now, they’ve got a director to join them, with Wedding Crashers and The Judge veteran stepping up to the helm.

 

Will Ferrell to star in Netflix Eurovision comedy

19th June 2018

Will Ferrell is Netflix’s entry to Eurovision this year, with the streaming giant ordering a new comedy from the Anchorman star.

Currently titled simply “Eurovision”, the film is written by Ferrell and Andrew Steele, a Saturday Night Live veteran who has worked with the actor on Mexican comedy Casa De Mi Padre and noir spoof series The Spoils Before Dying. The film will be based on the hugely successful international singing competition, with Ferrell having proven his singing chops before on screen, from ‪Step Brothers‬ and Elf to sketches on SNL.

Eurovision needs no introduction in this country, running since 1956 and boasting such winners as Katrina and the Waves in the 1990s and ABBA in the 1970s, with other victors ranging from Celine Dion to – this year – Israel’s Netta. Initially hosted by a handful of countries in West Europe, the competition now includes 43 countries – including Australia.

The tournament is loved both sincerely and ironically in the UK, where fans both embrace its silliness and cheer on the acts with serious passion. In America, where it is less well known, it is likely that Ferrell will treat the whole thing with mockery rather than affection. That in itself, though, marks the project out as an interesting proposition, as Netflix is clearly thinking along global lines for a project that will have more appeal in Europe than it will in its home country.

It’s a sign of both the changing focus of the streaming giant and the changing scene of Hollywood comedy, where TV series and talk show clips on YouTube have become a more powerful currency than traditional comedy features starring A-listers. Even vehicles such as Andy Samberg’s Popstar tend to find a bigger audience in the long-term on streaming services than at the cinema box office. Adam Sandler’s success on Netflix, meanwhile, has proven that there life in living rooms around the world, regardless of what reviews may say or what the reception might have been in cinemas on home soil.

Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum will produce Eurovision for Gary Sanchez Productions, with Adam McKay on board as exec producer. News of the commission was broke by Deadline, only a matter of weeks after another Gary Sanchez production, Ibiza, premieres on Netflix.

Add to Watchlist