Joel McHale to play Chevy Chase in National Lampoon origin film

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Just last year a documentary about National Lampoon, DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON, delved into how the magazine and its cinematic output helped to shape the course of American humour. Now, the tragic story of National Lampoon's co-founder Douglas Kenney is set for the biopic treatment. David Wain (WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER) will direct the film for Netflix which is titled A FUTILE AND STUPID GESTURE.

Will Forte is already set to star as Douglas Kenney with Domhnall Gleeson also onboard as fellow co-founder Henry Beard. The film will feature a number of celebrity roles, but one of the key figures in Kenney's story is none other than Chevy Chase. THR is reporting that Chase's former Community co-star Joel McHale is currently in final negotiations to portray Chevy Chase. As the success of National Lampoon grew, Keeney found it difficult to cope with the pressure and unfortunately began abusing drugs and alcohol. When CADDYSHACK, which Keeney co-wrote, began receiving bad reviews, his friend Chevy Chase took him to Hawaii to lift his spirits. Chase had to return back to Los Angeles for work and while he was gone Douglas Kenney fell off a cliff under mysterious circumstances and died.

Production on A FUTILE AND STUPID GESTURE is set to get underway this April.