Steve Coogan & John C. Reilly reunite for rival actor film The Players

Thursday 31st October 2024, 4:58pm by Jay Richardson

Stan & Ollie stars Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are reteaming for The Players, a comedy about egotistical 19th century actors
The pair play thespians Edwin Forrest and William MacCready in the feature, which is written by Jeff Pope and directed by The Full Monty's Peter Cattaneo
Executive producer Dave Bishop says Coogan and Reilly's "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 to be a tremendous crowd pleaser"

Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are reuniting for a film about rival actors.

The pair, who starred as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in the 2019 feature Stan & Ollie (pictured), lead The Players, a comedy based on the jealousy between 19th Century thespians Edwin Forrest and William MacCready.

US trade website Deadline reports that the screenplay has been written by Coogan's regular collaborator and Stan & Ollie scribe Jeff Pope, with Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty, Military Wives) directing.

Beginning production in Europe early next year, The Players is set in 1847 New York, where 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 actor 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.

Coogan, currently juggling four roles in the stage adaptation of Dr Strangelove, previously gave an unorthodox take on the Shakespearean play in the 2008 American film Hamlet 2, in which he played a failed actor-turned-teacher who writes and produces a sequel to the tragedy. Like MacCready, the Alan Partridge star is an Englishman of Irish heritage who alternates between comic and dramatic performances.

Earlier this year Coogan, Pope and Cattaneo teamed up for comedy-drama feature The Penguin Lessons, based on Tom Michell's 2016 memoir, with Coogan portraying Michell, a British teacher who took a job in Argentina in 1976, finding his life transformed when he rescues an orphaned penguin from the beach. Philomena, the 2013 drama written by Pope and starring Coogan and Judi Dench, was nominated for four Oscars.

The Players is produced by Ben Cavey (Bad Education) and Tim Cole (Looking For Eric) with Josh Horsfield and Ben Pugh for 42, the latter two having previously made Military Wives with Cattaneo, Sharon Horgan and Kristin Scott Thomas for the Anglo-American production company. Executive producers on The Players include Coogan, Pope and Protagonist Pictures' Dave Bishop.

Bishop told Deadline: "The multi-talented Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly have reunited for this wildly funny, bigger than life battle of egos.

"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."

Yesterday, a first image was released of Coogan as former Ireland football manager Mick McCarthy in the comedy biopic Saipan. He is pictured alongside Éanna Hardwicke as the legendary Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, with the film based upon the pair's very public fallout at the 2002 World Cup.

Stan & Ollie

Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly star as Laurel & Hardy in the untold story of the world's greatest comedy act.

Stan & Ollie wonderfully portrays the unique and precious partnership of the legendary duo as they set out on a tour of Britain in the twilight of their career. Whilst they face an uncertain future the charm and beauty of their performances shine through, making each other and their audiences laugh, reconnecting them with legions of adoring fans, old and new. With stunning performances from Coogan and Reilly, critics have called Stan & Ollie "absolute perfection" (IGN), "incredibly funny" (The Telegraph), "an absolute delight" (Radio Times) and a that "reaches genuinely sublime heights" (The Times).

First released: Monday 6th May 2019