Netflix’s National Lampoon movie A Futile and Stupid Gesture has been casting up a storm lately, and now the movie has found its Harold Ramis and Bill Murray. Actors Rick Glassman and Jon Daly, respectively, will be taking on the roles in the Netflix movie.
According to a Deadline report, Rick Glassman (Undateable) and Jon Daly (Kroll Show) will have supporting roles in the film. Glassman will portray Harold Ramis, while Daly will take on the part of Bill Murray in A Futile and Stupid Gesture. The actors will join previously announced players Will Forte, Martin Mull, Joel McHale, Thomas Lennon, Domhnall Gleeson, Jackie Tohn, Matt Walsh and John Gemberling.
The film will be based on the 2006 book by journalist Josh Karp, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture: How Doug Kenney and National Lampoon Changed Comedy Forever." Karp’s book is a history of National Lampoon magazine and Doug Kenney, one of the three founders of the magazine, during the 1970s. The book also recounts tales from the making of National Lampoon movies Animal House and Caddyshack. The title of the story is taken from an Animal House line spoken by the character Otter.
National Lampoon was considered a ground breaking American humor magazine, which was actually a spinoff from the Harvard Lampoon. The magazine was published from 1970 until 1998, and featured parody, surrealist content that was an odd mix of trailblazing, intelligent wit and ridiculous, coarse humor, which pushed past the boundaries of what was acceptable in humor at the time. Each issue featured a theme that the magazine was built around, and often targeted any aspect of society that the writers and founders considered to be phony or pretentious. Especially popular in the ‘70s, the National Lampoon spawned radio shows, live theater, various print products, recordings and, of course, films.
Rick Glassman, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Harold Ramis, is best known for his work on the NBC comedy Undateable where he plays super honest bar patron Burski. The stand up comedian has also appeared on the shows Deadbeat, Barely Famous and The Comedians.
Jon Daly is a comedian who’s been a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy group for over 10 years, and has had several parts in TV shows and movies. In addition to his work on Kroll Show, he’s been seen in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Bride Wars and Mystery Team. His television appearances have included Happy Endings, Drunk History, Key & Peele and Parks and Recreation
A Futile and Stupid Gesture has certainly assembled a cast of intriguing actors to bring National Lampoon’s history to life, and we can’t wait to see how they do it.
