Will Forte is back as his oblivious action hero MacGruber in a new series for Peacock.
The 50-year-old comic actor has received an eight-episode order for the series to debut on the new NBCUniversal streamer, which the company announced Monday at Peacock’s Television Critics Association press day.
The action–comedy show was first announced to be in development back in January.
Back at it: Will Forte, 50, will reprise his bumbling action hero character MacGruber in a new eight-episode series order for the new NBCUniversal streamer Peacock; shown in October
The new series will consist of half-hour episodes modeled after the 2010 MacGruber film, which also starred Forte and was directed by the Lonely Island’s Jorma Taccone, who will return to direct the season.
The absurd but deadpan teaser trailer opens with stock images of nature to represent the creation of the Earth.
‘On the seventh day, God rested. And on the eighth day, God woke up, refreshed form his nap, and made what most agree is his finest creation yet,’ a narrator dramatically intones as explosive footage from the MacGruber film plays.
Grandiose: The absurd but deadpan teaser trailer opens with stock images of nature to represent the creation of the Earth
Epic: ‘On the seventh day, God rested. And on the eighth day, God woke up, refreshed form his nap, and made what most agree is his finest creation yet,’ a narrator dramatically intones
Drama: The trailer features a montage of dramatic clips from the 2010 MacGruber film
Making an entrance: Present-day MacGruber appears in his usual uniform and sunglasses atop a cliff by the sea. ‘Spread the word, ya freakin’ turds,’ Forte says to close out the clip
Present-day MacGruber appears in his usual uniform and sunglasses atop a cliff by the sea.
‘Spread the word, ya freakin’ turds,’ Forte says to close out the short clip.
The show picks up in the aftermath of the film, when MacGruber, a mostly incompetent knock-off of MacGyver from the 1980s and early-’90s TV series, is released from jail after 10 years.
‘His mission: to take down a mysterious villain from his past: Brigadier Commander Enos Queeth,’ reads the show’s logline.
‘With the entire world in the crosshairs, MacGruber must race against time to defeat the forces of evil — only to find that evil… may be lurking within.
Humble beginning: Jorma Taccone created MacGruber while writing on SNL. He directed the skits and wrote them with Forte; pictured with (L-R) Akiva Shaffer and Andy Samberg in 2016
Fumbled: MacGuber always sported shaggy hair, a canvas vest and a flannel shirt, as he tried to defuse a bomb, though he got sidetracked with his personal traumas and pet peeves
The character was originally created by Taccone when he was a writer for SNL, and he wrote all of the sketches with Forte and John Solomon and directed most of them.
Forte, Solomon and Taccone with write and executive produce the new series, while SNL boss Lorne Michaels will also serve as an EP with John Goldwyn, Andrew Singer and Erin David.
Each one found MacGuber, who always sported shaggy hair, a canvas vest and a flannel shirt, as he tried to defuse a bomb, though he invariably got sidetracked with his own personal traumas and pet peeves.
Star power: Ryan Phillippe and Kristen Wiig costarred in the 2010 film. The movie was a dud with a $9 million gross against a $10 million budget but became a cult comedy classic
Kristen Wiig played his sidekick and love interest in the 2010 film, while Ryan Phillippe also joined his team.
The movie was a box office dud that only earned $9 million against a $10 million budget, though it has since become a cult comedy classic.
Following his stint on SNL from 2002–2010, Forte created and starred in the critically acclaimed Fox comedy series The Last Man On Earth from 2015–2018 and has been a go-to comedy guest star on numerous TV shows.