Netflix has released the first trailer and poster for the comedy film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture. The comedy’s based on the 2006 book by Josh Karp and delves into the life and career of National Lampoon’s co-founder, Doug Kenney. Wet Hot American Summer‘s David Wain directed and Michael Colton and John Aboud (Childrens Hospital) adapted Karp’s book.
The cast includes Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) as Doug Kenney and Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) as Henry Beard, one of the other co-founders of National Lampoon. Martin Mull (Arrested Development) plays an older Doug Kenney, Joel McHale (Community) is Chevy Chase, and Matt Lucas (Doctor Who) is Tony Hendra. Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple) plays Michael O’Donoghue, Seth Green (Austin Powers) is Christopher Guest, Jackie Tohn (House of Lies) is Gilda Radner, and Natasha Lyonne (Orange is the New Black) stars as Anne Beatts. Emmy Rossum (Shameless) is Kathryn Walker, Elvy Yost (The Catch) is Mary Marshmallow, Matt Walsh (Veep) plays Matty Simmons, and John Gemberling (Broad City) stars as John Belushi. Rick Glassman (Undateable) plays Harold Ramis, Camille Guaty (Scorpion) is Alex Garcia-Mata, and Jon Daly (Zoolander 2) is Bill Murray.
The comedy was shot in Los Angeles in 2016. Peter Principato and Jonathan Stern produced the film. David Wain, Michael Colton, John Aboud, Ed Helms, Ben Ormand, Sean McKittrick, and Ted Hamm served as executive producers.
A Futile and Stupid Gesture will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2018. It will premiere on Netflix on January 26th.
The Plot: A Futile and Stupid Gesture is the story of comedy wunderkind Doug Kenney, who co-created the National Lampoon, Caddyshack, and Animal House. Kenney was at the center of the 70’s comedy counter-culture which gave birth to Saturday Night Live and a whole generation’s way of looking at the world.
