by BBC Films will pay homage Laurel and Hardy with a new movie re-enacting the famous comedy duo’s final stage tour in 1953, played on the big screen by Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel and John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy.
Jon S. Baird will direct Stan & Ollie, with a screenplay from Jeff Pope.
“Like so many others I grew up watching Laurel and Hardy and I’m therefore honored to help bring this incredible true story of love, laughter and friendship to the big screen,” Baird said.
Laurel and Hardy’s partnership at the Hal Roach studio began in 1926, and they made 13 films for the studio between 1931 and 1940. They starred in eight more movies in the 1940s. Hardy died in 1957, while Laurel died in 1965.
