Will Ferrell is set to play one of the most extreme characters of his career in the new Netflix golf comedy series The Hawk. The character, Lonnie Hawkins, sports an orange tan reminiscent of Donald Trump, bleached blonde curls, and a smarmy bravado as he swaggers onto the golf course.
Ferrell on Narcissism in the Modern Age
“I really wanted to play someone who was the most extreme narcissist ever,” Ferrell told Metro. “I know I’ve dipped my toe in that pool many a time. In some ways Lonnie is the most extreme in that role, only because I feel like right now we are in the golden age of narcissism.”
Ferrell is no stranger to self-centred personas, having portrayed characters like Ron Burgundy, Chaz Michael Michaels, and Mugatu. However, Lonnie may tip the scales even further. “There are so many narcissists through our political spectrum, through our entertainment, social media zeitgeist, everything, and so I think while this show is really fun and funny and irreverent, we’re kind of commenting on all that at the same time,” he shared.
The Hawk: Plot and Cast
The Hawk follows golf legend Lonnie on his quest to complete the coveted Grand Slam by winning one final major tournament. However, his own egotism could derail his desperate goal. The official Netflix synopsis reads: “On the back nine of his career, golf legend Lonnie ‘The Hawk’ Hawkins chases one final major — and drags everyone he loves into the chaos.”
The cast includes Will Ferrell as Lonnie Hawkins, Molly Shannon as Stacy, Jimmy Tatro as Lance, Fortune Feimster as Sam, Chris Parnell as Anton, Katelyn Tarver as Natalie, David Hornsby as Radford, Luke Wilson as Golden Fisk, Gabriel Hogan as Jerry, and Aida Osman as Crystal. The series consists of 10 episodes, all premiering on the same day.
Ferrell’s Unmatched Commitment to Roles
At 58, Ferrell remains known for his uninhibited performances, from his iconic role in Elf to his famous cowbell sketch on SNL. Recently, he stripped down to his underwear for a Skims campaign, swinging a golf club and smirking into the camera as a voiceover declared: “Built for men who still know they’ve got it.”
When asked where he finds such confidence, Ferrell explained: “A couple of things. I kind of have this… it’s part of my DNA that I love sort of holding my hand over the flame for as long as I can before it starts to hurt. I knew starting out in comedy that I would probably come across other comedians who I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, they are just as funny as me, or they are way funnier.’ But I made a promise to myself there will never be anyone that will out-commit to a premise, to a role in a way. That will be the one thing that I know I can do better than anyone, and that’s kind of what has governed everything I’ve done. I’ve just thrown myself and committed in such a way that I don’t think anyone can match me.”
Inspiration and Real-Life Parallels
Ferrell acknowledged that Lonnie’s character was not based on any single real person. “I think it was no one in particular,” he admitted. “It’s also an examination of pro athletes who refuse to recognise that their time is over, which can span any sort of occupation. There is a shelf life to what you can do in terms of your abilities. Of course, mine will never expire as an actor, ever, right?”
He added, “I’ve seen a lot of athletes who have hung on too long, so that’s part of Lonnie’s journey. The competing with his son, who he’s both proud of, because it’s an extension of him, but he also resents. So all of those things, while they weren’t taken from anyone specifically, there are many stories like that.”
Release Date
The Hawk premieres on Thursday, July 16, on Netflix.
