A biopic about legendary comedian Phil Hartman is in the works.
According to Variety, Jason Priestley will direct Nice Guy Phil, a new movie about the late Saturday Night Live veteran. You probably best know Priestley for playing Brandon Walsh on 90210. He made his directorial debut in 2013 with Cas and Dylan.
The screenplay for Nice Guy Phil is written by Jonas Chernick (My Awkward Sexual Adventure, Lucid). Starring as Phil Hartman will be Daran Norris, an actor who has appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows over the years including Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Veronica Mars and he voiced Cosmo on The Fairly OddParents as well.
Producer Tyler Levine told Variety that Nice Guy Phil will explore the ups and downs of the actor's life.
“Comedians are notoriously complex people and Phil was no exception,” he said. “Anyone that knew him always says that he was the nicest guy they ever met.”
Priestley says he met Hartman while hosting Saturday Night Live in 1992 and the two stayed in touch after that.
Hartman joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1986, where he become famous for his impressions of President Clinton, President Reagan, Frank Sinatra, and many more. He also starred on NewsRadio as Bill for four seasons, and he voiced several characters on The Simpsons including Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure.
Hartman was murdered by his wife in 1998 at the age of 49. He was posthumously honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.