Del Close biopic needs new financing, new Del in lead after Mike Myers drops out

A roast of George Wendt at The Second City over the weekend brought with it some unexpected news about an upcoming movie on the late improv icon Del Close.

Various sources reported that the financing for Del needs to be reconfigured, and executive producer and Second City owner Andrew Alexander told the Chicago Sun-Times that Mike Myers was no longer attached to play Close. “Now we’re looking at finding the right Del,” Alexander said.

Myers was last seen on TV this summer in disguise as an elderly British celebrity hosting The Gong Show for ABC, but now instead is in talks to join a new movie about Freddie Mercury and his band Queen.

Close taught not only Myers, but also a generation of comedy giants. Among them, Betty Thomas, who’s directing Del, and is focusing the story on Close and one such fictional student, to be portrayed by Tony-winning actor Alex Sharp.

Who might play Close now? Anyone and everyone, from past students such as Bill Murray, to others including John Malkovich.

Who’d you like to see in the role of Del?

Charna Halpern, who started improvOlympic (iO) and worked with Close, also has a biopic project in the works.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →