“Broad City” actor John Gemberling is set to portray John Belushi in Netflix’s original movie “A Futile & Stupid Gesture,” which tells the tragic story of National Lampoon co-founder Doug Kenney, TheWrap has exclusively learned.
Will Forte is set to play Kenney, while Domhnall Gleeson will play his co-founder Henry Beard. Joel McHale will co-star as his “Community” co-star Chevy Chase.
David Wain (“Wet Hot American Summer”) is directing from a script by Michael Colton and John Aboud, based on the book by Josh Karp.
The film is being produced by Peter Principato and Jonathan Stern are producing. Ed Helms is executive producing along with Colton and Aboud, as well as Ben Ormand, Ted Hamm and Sean McKittrick. Production will start later this month.
Kenney was the editor of the Harvard Lampoon before he helped create the popular humor magazine National Lampoon. He also co-wrote the comedy classics “Caddyshack” and “Animal House,” the latter of which starred Belushi. Kenney wound up struggling with drug and alcohol abuse before falling off a cliff in Hawaii under mysterious circumstances.
Gemberling recurs as Matt Bevers on Comedy Central’s hit series “Broady City.” He has appeared on numerous TV shows including “Marry Me” and “Super Fun Night,” though “A Futile & Stupid Gesture” is his largest movie role to date. He’s represented by UTA and Principato-Young Entertainment.