New movie about improv svengali Del Close

Mike Myers is to play improv comedy legend Del Close in a new movie.

The Austin Powers star was mentored by Close in real life – and the plot of the film reflects the same relationship between tutor and protegé.

Close mentored several comedians including Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Tina Fey – and had a reputation for pushing performers to their limit.

He was twice a member of Chicago’s Second City – fired the first time for substance abuse – and went on to work at the improv troupe’s Toronto base in 1977.

In the 1980s he worked on Saturday Night Live and continued to teach improv, although his own screen appearances were limited to small parts, including an English teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  He died of emphysema o in 1999, just before his 65th birthday.

The screenplay for Del has been written by feature film newcomer Nick Torokvei,  and it will be directed by Betty Thomas, whose biggest hit to date is Eddie Murphy’s Dr. Dolittle.

Producer Paul Hanson told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Mike Myers is a comedy genius and the perfect actor to inhabit this complicated, funny, poignant character. A pioneer of his craft, Close has passed his knowledge of humour and improv to the group of comedians that everyone knows today and this hilarious script examines that intimate relationship with his students that has made them so successful.’

Published: 10 Feb 2017