Will Ferrell and Harper Steele go on emotional road trip after she comes out as trans in 'Will & Harper' trailer (original) (raw)

Tim Cahill once said, "A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles." But for longtime pals Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, who hit the road together in their new documentary Will & Harper, it's both.

"Hi there, I'm Will Ferrell. One of the greatest actors in the world," Ferrell says in the trailer for the doc, released Thursday. "A long time ago, back when I was at Saturday Night Live, I met a guy hired as a writer the same week I was hired. He wrote a bunch of sketches for me, and eventually became the head writer of SNL. And, over the years, he became one of my closest friends. And then one day I got this email. 'Hey Will, something I need you to know. I'll be transitioning to live as a woman.'"

The clip pans to Steele, who tells the camera, "I love this country so much, I just don't know if it loves me back right now." Cue Ferrell's big idea, as he says, "Harper, would you want to do a road trip as this new version of yourself?"

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in 'Will & Harper'.

Netflix

Such is the setup for Will & Harper, which has so far charmed critics and audiences at both the Sundance and Telluride film fests.

The movie's official synopsis reads: "In this intimate, honest, and heartfelt documentary, Will and Harper hit the open road together to process this new stage of their friendship and reintroduce Harper to the country that she loves – this time, as herself. Over 16 days, the two drive from New York to LA, visiting stops that are meaningful to them, to their friendship, and to America. Through laughter, tears, and many cans of Pringles, they push past their comfort zones as they re-examine their relationships to these spaces, and to each other, in this new light."

The trailer (below) promises laugh out loud moments, as well as more emotional ones. In one particularly funny scene, the duo are stopped at a gas station and Steele questions a young man who hilariously has no idea who Ferrell is. "That's okay, roll up the window," Ferrell says quickly.

In a different, more vulnerable moment, Steele asks her friend if he was nervous about how to talk to her after she came out to him. He concedes that he was "probably a little nervous," but Steele assures him, "There are no ground rules with friends, I'm telling you. I invite any friend of mine to ask me these questions."

Harper Steele and Will Ferrell in 'Will & Harper'.

Netflix

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

Directed by Josh Greenbaum (Becoming Bond, Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar), Will & Harper will be in select theaters on Sept. 13 and premieres on Netflix on Sept. 27. Watch the full trailer for the doc, above.