Leaked Movie Pitch Has Will Ferrell Playing Donald Sterling
Ever wonder who would play former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in a movie?
You probably wouldn't expect it to be the same person who portrayed Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby. But in a leaked movie treatment spotted by Deadspin's Timothy Burke, that's exactly what one movie studio is suggesting.
Apparently, Sony wants Will Ferrell to play a disgraced sports owner in a remake of the 1986 movie Ruthless People. That film starred Danny DeVito as millionaire psychopath Sam Stone.
The craziness doesn't stop there. Allegedly, Melissa McCarthy would act the part of Sterling's wife, while his mistress would be played by none other than Kristen Wiig. The Michael Jordan impersonator Wiig has collaborated with Ferrell in the past, appearing in Anchorman 2, Semi-Pro and this hilarious sketch at the 2013 Golden Globes.
Of course, the leaked pitch indicates there would be a few tweaks from the 1986 original. Sony wants Ferrell to own an NFL team instead of a basketball franchise. And because "Donald Sterling" is a little too on the nose, the studio wants Ferrell's name to be changed to Ronald Sperling.
I see what you did there, Sony.
The plot involves Sterling, I mean Sperling, getting kidnapped at an awards banquet. After TMZ leaks tapes of his racist ramblings (sound familiar?), nobody is willing to pay the ransom.
Don't get your hopes up, though. This is just a pitch. Ferrell has played some offbeat characters in the past, but this is a little far-fetched, even for him.
If the film comes to fruition, Sony wants Ferrell's writing partner Adam McKay to direct it.
One thing's for sure: If there's one man who can make Sterling funny, it's the guy who invented the piano key necktie.
