While the National Lampoon name is mostly known for comedy, it does have some tragic history attached to it, and that story is on its way to Netflix.
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SNL and The Last Man On Earth star Will Forte is now attached to the film, titled A Futile and Stupid Gesture, about Doug Kenney’s successful but tumultuous life. The film will be directed by Wet Hot American Summer co-creator David Wain, which if finalized and greenlit will appear on Netflix.
The film is based on the book, which was released in 2006. Kenney was one of the co-founders of the National Lampoon magazine. After it achieved some status and catapulted Kenney into a Hollywood career, including co-writing Animal House and Caddyshack, the downward spiral of drugs and alcohol started taking shape. Even an attempted intervention by his girlfriend and actor Chevy Chase couldn’t save him, and he was later found at the bottom of a cliff at the young age of 33.
The film is being written by Michael Colton and John Aboud, and Peter Principato and Jonathan Stern will produce, along with Ed Helms, Ben Ormand, Ted Hamm, and Sean McKittrick. The film is aiming for a $15 to $20 million dollar budget, and will hopefully be shooting in April.