American film director David Dobkin, known for his work on ‘Clay Pigeons’, ‘Shanghai Knights’, ‘Wedding Crashers’, and ‘The Judge’, has been signed to direct ‘Eurovision’, a comedy set around the Eurovision Song Contest.
Will Ferrell is attached to star and write the film, alongside Andrew Steele, former Saturday Night Live writer, for Netflix. He will also produce the show with Jessica Elbaum, and Chris Henchy (Gary Sanchez Productions). Adam McKay is executive producer.
The Eurovision Song Contest is entering its 64th year this year, and will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, following the win by Israel’s Netta last year, with her song, ‘Toy’. The competition is one of the most popular programmes in the world, and is held every May. The first contest was held in 1956, in Switzerland, with only seven countries competing. This year sees 43 countries sending their entries to Tel Aviv.
Eurovision has launched successful international careers for ABBA, who won in 1974 for Sweden, Céline Dion (1988 winner for Switzerland), and Jedward, who represented Ireland twice, finishing 8th in 2011 and 19th in 2012. They still retain the highest result for Ireland since Eamonn Toal finished in 6th place in 2000.
Will Ferrell has been a keen fan of Eurovision for many years, having first been introduced to the Contest by his Swedish wife, Vivica Paulin. The couple even attended last year’s competition in Lisbon, Portugal.
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