Stan & Ollie dup back together for The Players

Steve Coogan is to be reunited with his Stan & Ollie co-star John C. Reilly for a film about rival actors.

Set in 1847 New York, Reilly plays America’s top Shakespearian actor who is threatened when a critically celebrated English thespian, played by  Coogan, arrives from London to perform his sophisticated Hamlet.

The screenplay has been written by Coogan's regular collaborator Jeff Pope, who also penned Stan & Ollie, with Peter Cattaneo  directing, Deadline reports.

Coogan and Reilly’s performance of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in the 2019 biopic

Executive producer Dave Bishop told the trade website: ‘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.’

Coogan is currently  starring in the West End version of Dr Strangelove, adapted by Armando Iannucci and Sean Foley.

His performance in four separate roles has been praised by critics as ‘stellar’, ‘hysterical’ and terrific, although reaction to the production as a whole has been more mixed. 

It received four stars from the Daily Mail, London Theatre and The Stage and three from The Guardian, The Times and The Independent and The Arts Desk

Published: 1 Nov 2024