This article was originally published by QNews. You can find the original article here.
In a world of Dave Chappelles and JK Rowlings, be a Will Ferrell. The comedian and actor’s touching documentary Will & Harper, filmed with a longtime friend after she came out as transgender, is coming to Netflix this week.
Will & Harper is a heartwarming and funny tribute to friendship with a 100% rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. The film arrives on the streaming service on September 27.
Two years ago, Will Ferrell was filming a movie when he received an email from a longtime friend.
Harper Steele and Will met on his first day at Saturday Night Live back in 1995. Now, Harper was coming out to him as a trans woman.
Over three decades, the pair had not only collaborated on numerous projects, they’d become close friends.
“We’d go to Lakers games, go on road trips together, surprise each other at random little bars in costume,” Will explained to Netflix.
But when Harper came out as transgender, things changed. She wasn’t sure she’d feel as comfortable in those same places. So Will had an idea.
“What if we went on a road trip together, giving her a chance to go into a cowboy bar or whatever places she misses? And I can be by her side and lend support as a friend?” the actor explained.
“At the same time, it would give us a chance to reconnect, and figure out what this transition means to our relationship.”
‘Will & Harper’ shows duo’s 16 day road trip
The road trip took Will and Harper 16 days as they drove from New York to LA. On the way, they visit stops that are meaningful to them and reconnect with each other.
“I didn’t just want to come out in places like New York or LA and forever live on either coast,” Harper explained.
“I love the whole country. It’s my country, and I wanted to feel a little safer being in it.
“And I thought that going across the country with Will Ferrell would help me. That’s the privilege I have of knowing Will Ferrell.
“I could almost pinpoint the moment where I’m like, ‘Will sees me the way I want him to see me now.’
“It was a wonderful experience to see someone not struggling with accepting me but working to understand how I wanted him to understand it.
“Ultimately, the main reason that got me to do [the film] was, ‘Oh, maybe this could be useful for others.’”
“I like to think that about any kind of work that I’m putting out there.”
Will & Harper is on Netflix on September 27.
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