Will Ferrell's Stepmom 'Got Chills' Telling a Friend About His New Doc: 'Makes Me Feel So Hopeful' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Ferrell (left); Lee Ferrell and Karen Ferrell.Photo:Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock; Michael Buckner/Variety via GettyWill Ferrell’s parents are major fans of his new documentary.The actor’s father, Roy Lee Ferrell, and stepmother, Karen Ferrell, tell PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere ofWill & Harperon Thursday, Sept. 19, that that they have already seen his new documentary twice before.“You know, this is the third time that we’ve seen it, and I was telling someone today about it, and just telling them about it, I got chills, and I’m ready to cry again and laugh again,” Karen says of the new film, which covers as cross-country road trip Will, 57, took with his longtime friend and formerSaturday Night Livewriter Harper Steele following her decision to come out as transgender.“I say it makes me feel so hopeful for the world. It’s what we need right now in a lot of different ways,” Karen adds of the movie. “I think this is so important, and just what an idea that we’ll have just… And we love Harper. We’ve known her for a long, long time.“Will Ferrrell (left) and Harper Steele in ‘Will & Harper’.Courtesy of NetflixRoy, a musician, adds that Harper’s story rings close to home given how long they have known her.“Having known somebody for 30 years, it’s different than if you read about something in the paper, you know? It’s a personal thing,” he tells PEOPLE. “Plus, these gentlemen, these little lady and gentleman, they’re comedy writers. They’ll be saying something brilliantly funny and, all of a sudden, there’ll be something very poignant, very sweet.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“And I got my handkerchief, he adds of seeing the movie. “The first time I saw it, after it was over, I couldn’t even talk.“Will & Harper, which played at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival prior to its upcoming Netflix release, also features appearances fromSNLalums Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Colin Jost, Will Forte, Molly Shannon, Tim Meadows and Paula Pell. The movie was filmed during a 16-day road trip from New York City to L.A., per an official synopsis.Lee Ferrell and Karen Ferrell on Sept. 19, 2024.Michael Buckner/Variety via GettyWill himself showed how much the project — and Harper’s friendship — meant to him as he told PEOPLE on the red carpet that he could “talk about this movie forever.““The questions that were asked and the reaction that it’s getting and that she’s getting for being so courageous and brave in sharing her story, it brings me to tears every time,” he says.Will & Harperis in select theaters now and begins streaming on Netflix Sept. 27.

Will Ferrell (left); Lee Ferrell and Karen Ferrell.Photo:Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock; Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock; Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Will Ferrell’s parents are major fans of his new documentary.The actor’s father, Roy Lee Ferrell, and stepmother, Karen Ferrell, tell PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere ofWill & Harperon Thursday, Sept. 19, that that they have already seen his new documentary twice before.“You know, this is the third time that we’ve seen it, and I was telling someone today about it, and just telling them about it, I got chills, and I’m ready to cry again and laugh again,” Karen says of the new film, which covers as cross-country road trip Will, 57, took with his longtime friend and formerSaturday Night Livewriter Harper Steele following her decision to come out as transgender.“I say it makes me feel so hopeful for the world. It’s what we need right now in a lot of different ways,” Karen adds of the movie. “I think this is so important, and just what an idea that we’ll have just… And we love Harper. We’ve known her for a long, long time.“Will Ferrrell (left) and Harper Steele in ‘Will & Harper’.Courtesy of NetflixRoy, a musician, adds that Harper’s story rings close to home given how long they have known her.“Having known somebody for 30 years, it’s different than if you read about something in the paper, you know? It’s a personal thing,” he tells PEOPLE. “Plus, these gentlemen, these little lady and gentleman, they’re comedy writers. They’ll be saying something brilliantly funny and, all of a sudden, there’ll be something very poignant, very sweet.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“And I got my handkerchief, he adds of seeing the movie. “The first time I saw it, after it was over, I couldn’t even talk.“Will & Harper, which played at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival prior to its upcoming Netflix release, also features appearances fromSNLalums Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Colin Jost, Will Forte, Molly Shannon, Tim Meadows and Paula Pell. The movie was filmed during a 16-day road trip from New York City to L.A., per an official synopsis.Lee Ferrell and Karen Ferrell on Sept. 19, 2024.Michael Buckner/Variety via GettyWill himself showed how much the project — and Harper’s friendship — meant to him as he told PEOPLE on the red carpet that he could “talk about this movie forever.““The questions that were asked and the reaction that it’s getting and that she’s getting for being so courageous and brave in sharing her story, it brings me to tears every time,” he says.Will & Harperis in select theaters now and begins streaming on Netflix Sept. 27.

Will Ferrell’s parents are major fans of his new documentary.

The actor’s father, Roy Lee Ferrell, and stepmother, Karen Ferrell, tell PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere ofWill & Harperon Thursday, Sept. 19, that that they have already seen his new documentary twice before.

“You know, this is the third time that we’ve seen it, and I was telling someone today about it, and just telling them about it, I got chills, and I’m ready to cry again and laugh again,” Karen says of the new film, which covers as cross-country road trip Will, 57, took with his longtime friend and formerSaturday Night Livewriter Harper Steele following her decision to come out as transgender.

“I say it makes me feel so hopeful for the world. It’s what we need right now in a lot of different ways,” Karen adds of the movie. “I think this is so important, and just what an idea that we’ll have just… And we love Harper. We’ve known her for a long, long time.”

Will Ferrrell (left) and Harper Steele in ‘Will & Harper’.Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

Roy, a musician, adds that Harper’s story rings close to home given how long they have known her.

“Having known somebody for 30 years, it’s different than if you read about something in the paper, you know? It’s a personal thing,” he tells PEOPLE. “Plus, these gentlemen, these little lady and gentleman, they’re comedy writers. They’ll be saying something brilliantly funny and, all of a sudden, there’ll be something very poignant, very sweet.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“And I got my handkerchief, he adds of seeing the movie. “The first time I saw it, after it was over, I couldn’t even talk.“Will & Harper, which played at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival prior to its upcoming Netflix release, also features appearances fromSNLalums Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Colin Jost, Will Forte, Molly Shannon, Tim Meadows and Paula Pell. The movie was filmed during a 16-day road trip from New York City to L.A., per an official synopsis.

Lee Ferrell and Karen Ferrell on Sept. 19, 2024.Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Will himself showed how much the project — and Harper’s friendship — meant to him as he told PEOPLE on the red carpet that he could “talk about this movie forever.”

“The questions that were asked and the reaction that it’s getting and that she’s getting for being so courageous and brave in sharing her story, it brings me to tears every time,” he says.

Will & Harperis in select theaters now and begins streaming on Netflix Sept. 27.

source: people.com