Originally posted 2024-09-06 12:42:09.
In an ideal America, Will Ferrell would personally guide every newly out trans person on a healing cross-country road trip. While that utopia remains a dream, Harper Steele—longtime friend, former SNL co-head writer, and newly out trans woman—gets to live it in Will & Harper, Netflix’s latest must-see documentary. And if the trailer is anything to go by, it’s a tear-jerking, joyful ride that’s about to leave half the country ugly-crying on their couches.
The trailer gives us our first glimpse of the Ferrell-Steele duo as they travel from state to state in a station wagon, diving headfirst into roadside Americana—dirt track races, sketchy motels, poolside cannonballs, and even a cameo from Tina Fey. It’s all filtered through the lens of a friendship that spans decades, but the film’s beating heart is Harper’s journey of self-acceptance—and Will’s unwavering support.
The road trip was inspired by a 2021 email from Steele, in which she shared with Ferrell that she was transitioning. In the trailer, Ferrell recalls his immediate reaction: “Harper, would you want to do a road trip as this new version of yourself, and at the same time figure out what this all means to us?” The result is a cross-country quest not just for laughs, but for understanding—one that has already earned rave reviews and standing ovations at Sundance.
Being a good friend—and ally—doesn’t always mean getting it right from the start. It’s about showing up for the messy, vulnerable moments.
But the standout moment in the trailer? Watching Ferrell stand up to a bar patron who misgenders Steele. It’s a moment that feels incredibly raw, not just for the casual cruelty of the patron’s ignorance, but for how Ferrell handles it. Without skipping a beat, he corrects the person and moves on, setting a perfect example of allyship for millions of viewers who may still be learning how to navigate a loved one’s transition.
It’s easy to see why the movie resonates. While most of us aren’t besties with the guy who went streaking in Old School, many are re-learning how to support their trans friends and family members—just like Ferrell is doing with Steele. And there’s something beautifully relatable about watching that happen in real time. It’s a reminder that being a good friend (and ally) doesn’t always mean getting it right from the start—it’s about being there for the messy, vulnerable moments.
“I didn’t just want to come out in places like New York or L.A. and forever live on either coast,” Steele tells Tudum, Netflix’s editorial site. “I love the whole country. It’s my country, and I wanted to feel a little safer being in it. And I thought that going across the country with Will Ferrell would help me. That’s the privilege I have knowing Will Ferrell.”
And the film isn’t just about coming out; it’s about feeling safe to exist in spaces that don’t always seem welcoming—something many trans Americans can deeply relate to. By driving through the heart of the country, Will & Harper adds a layer of universality to the experience, reaching people who might not otherwise engage with a trans narrative. It’s not just a queer road trip—it’s a story about belonging in a country, being in a place that doesn’t always know what to do with you.
Steele, who co-wrote A Deadly Adoption and Netflix’s Eurovision Song Contest alongside Ferrell, isn’t new to comedy or to Ferrell’s world. But now, she’s stepping into the spotlight as herself, and that journey—from writer to the star of her own story—gives Will & Harper its emotional core.
Set to stream on Netflix starting September 27, the documentary promises to bring humor, heartbreak, and a timely message of allyship to the masses. With Steele’s sharp wit and Ferrell’s classic goofiness, it might just be the feel-good (and feel-everything) film of the year.