Will Ferrell is about to play one of the most extreme characters of his career: Lonnie Hawkins, a golf legend with an orange tan worthy of Donald Trump, bleached blonde curls, and smarmy bravado. 'I really wanted to play someone who was the most extreme narcissist ever,' Ferrell told Metro while discussing his new Netflix comedy series The Hawk. 'I know I've dipped my toe in that pool many a time. In some ways Lonnie is the most extreme in that role, only because I feel like right now we are in the golden age of narcissism.'
Ferrell's Commitment to Comedy
Ferrell, 58, is no stranger to self-centered personas, from Ron Burgundy to Mugatu. But Lonnie might tip the scales. 'There are so many narcissists through our political spectrum, through our entertainment, social media zeitgeist, everything, and so I think while this show is really fun and funny and irreverent, we're kind of commenting on all that at the same time,' he shared.
The Hawk follows Lonnie on his quest to complete the Grand Slam by winning one final major tournament, but his egotism could derail his goal. Ferrell's ability to commit fully to roles is legendary. 'I made a promise to myself there will never be anyone that will out-commit to a premise, to a role in a way. That will be the one thing that I know I can do better than anyone, and that's kind of what has governed everything I've done,' he said.
The Golden Age of Narcissism
Ferrell's confidence stems from a deep-seated drive. 'I kind of have this… it's part of my DNA that I love sort of holding my hand over the flame for as long as I can before it starts to hurt,' he explained. He sees his job as making audiences feel embarrassed for him. 'It's a chance for the audience to go, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe he's doing that," and it either makes you laugh or you look away.'
The series also examines aging athletes. 'It's an examination of pro athletes who refuse to recognise that their time is over,' Ferrell noted. 'There is a shelf life to what you can do in terms of your abilities. Of course, mine will never expire as an actor, ever, right?' He added with a laugh, 'I've seen a lot of athletes who have hung on too long, so that's part of Lonnie's journey.'
Cast and Release
The cast includes Molly Shannon as ex-wife Stacy, Jimmy Tatro as son Lance, Fortune Feimster as Sam, Chris Parnell as Anton, and Luke Wilson as Golden Fisk. The 10-episode series premieres Thursday, July 16 on Netflix. Ferrell's recent Skims campaign, where he stripped to tighty whities, underscores his unshakeable commitment. 'It's just the only way I know how to do it,' he said.
