CNN —
Will Ferrell is excited about his candid and enlightening new documentary, “Will & Harper,” and hopes it can spark compassion and conversation.
The project depicts the decades-long friendship between Ferrell and former “Saturday Night Live” head writer Harper Steele, who approached him about coming out as transgender. It inspired the two to go on a road trip together, and it’s currently streaming on Netflix. The timing of the film’s release was an important factor for them.
“When we talked to Netflix, we made it clear that we wanted to release this before the election,” Ferrell told Variety at the film’s recent Los Angeles premiere.
“We wanted to give it enough runway for people to see it and hopefully start important discussions in their living rooms,” he added.
“Will & Harper” explores the later changes in Steele’s life and the questions Ferrell needs to ask to better understand her experiences. You won’t forget anything during your cross-country road trip, as the two share both heartwarming and difficult moments from their journey in the documentary.
“It was amazing how we could carry on a conversation in a car for six hours a day and explore the depths of things,” Ferrell said.
The project proved timely as transgender rights have become a politicized issue in many parts of the country. A study released this week found that when anti-trans laws became state laws, suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary youth increased, and that suicide attempts among teens living in states with these laws increased. It was found that the increase was up to 72%.
“I’m hearing from people that they can’t wait to see this with their friends and family who may not share the same perspective, and they’re looking forward to seeing it together,” Ferrell said in the new film. talked about. “Hopefully it can chip away at it slowly.”
