Actor and comedian Will Ferrell, widely recognized for his laugh-inducing roles and skits, has recently taken to a more personal and revealing project with his best friend Harper Steele. In the freshly unveiled road trip documentary titled “Will & Harper,” the pair take on the roles of on-screen and off-screen explorers in a narrative that strikes far deeper chords than the comedic tunes Ferrell is typically known for.
The film evolves around a poignant and transformative period in both their lives, most notably Harper Steele’s; a comedian and writer who famously contributed to the comedic powerhouse “Saturday Night Live” from 1995 to 2008, and who came out as trans in 2022. This revelation and transition is the crux of the documentary, which tracks more than just physical miles traversed across America—it charts the journey of friendship and understanding against the backdrop of a personal metamorphosis.
Recently speaking on a podcast with Variety, Ferrell openly admitted to having “zero knowledge” about the trans community before Steele’s coming out. The documentary, directed by Josh Greenbaum, thus serves not only as a medium for storytelling but as an educational odyssey for Ferrell and, by extension, the audience. “I had met trans people, but I didn’t have anyone personally in my life,” Ferrell shared with listeners. This lack of personal connection to the trans community had fostered a gap in understanding which the documentary now seeks to bridge.
Ferrell expressed excitement about the film, recognizing it as an opportunity for the “cis community” to engage, ask questions, and more importantly, listen and support those going through transitions, using his personal growth as an example. His reflection on the documentary’s role is echoed in the way it has been depicted as an “intimate portrait of friendship, transition, and America.”
Engagement with a topic as intricate and personal as gender identity requires a delicate approach, one that “Will & Harper” seems to have found by focusing on the lived experience of a single individual, and the universalities of friendship. The film is currently seeking distribution at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, where it aims to find a platform for widespread audience engagement.
The heart of the documentary lies in its synopsis: “When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship.” Here, the pair embarks not just on an explorative journey through the diverse landscapes of America but also an explorative journey into understanding gender, identity, and the complexities of human relationships.
In today’s climate, where discussions around gender have become more prominent, there is a rising need for narratives that attend to the realities of the trans community—a need for stories that encapsulate the challenges, triumphs, and everyday lives of trans people. By sharing Steele’s story through his own lens, and through the lens of his friendship with Ferrell, the documentary sets out to humanize a topic that, for some, may seem abstract or distant.
“Will & Harper” proposes to offer such a humanizing narrative that not only educates but also resonates with the viewers on an emotional level, ultimately aiming to foster empathy and compel societal introspection.
As audiences await the release of the documentary, Ferrell’s confession serves as a reminder: personal connection is a powerful teacher, it challenges prejudices and fosters empathy. With Steele’s transition as a pivotal point, “Will & Harper” has the potential to not only entertain but educate, influence perspectives, and promote dialogue around the topic of gender identity, making it more than just a road trip story—it’s a journey into the heart of acceptance and understanding.
