Talladega Nights… but with golf? Sign me up.
Though the comedy genre as a whole has been lacking in the last decade or so, there’s always one man who you can count on for laughs: Will Ferrell. The SNL alum who has starred in comedic blockbusters such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and the aforementioned Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is taking his sports comedy chops to Netflix soon.
He’s set to play a washed up professional golfer named Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, and the first trailer for the series was released earlier today.
Ferrell is no stranger to taking comedy into the world of sports. He’s already starred as the beloved and bumbling NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby, and shined as basketball team owner, general manager and power forward, Jackie Moon, in the highly underrated comedy Semi-Pro.
Now, he’ll put on the golf attire – and what looks to be a faux-hair visor – as “2004’s number one golfer” attempting to make a comeback in the modern day, as explained in the show’s synopsis:
“Lonnie Hawkins (Will Ferrell), 2004’s number one golfer, struggles on the back nine of his career to recapture his magic. His body says retire, but his heart says he’s not done yet. His ex-wife and his son Lance, golf’s new golden boy, know he’s through. But with one more major to win to complete golf’s Grand Slam, Lonnie refuses to believe he’s anything other than one stroke away from the greatest comeback in golf history.”
Does it sound a bit like Happy Gilmore and Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix just delivered that sequel last summer)? Yes it does. But am I – and many others – still going to watch it? You bet.
Mainly because the sneak peek that we got of the 1o-episode series gives off big time Talladega Nights vibes. If you think about that movie, all it really did was drop a zany Will Ferrell into a serious sport. There’s arguably no sport more serious than golf, so having Ferrell tap back into his Ricky Bobby energy (he’s even got a puma painted on the side of his RV) and embarking on a comeback story while holding a golf club could make for great comedy.
Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, Chris Parnell, and Katelyn Tarver will also star in the Netflix series. And you’ll be able to check out The Hawk when it premieres on July 16.
Here’s the trailer:
What do you think? Will you be adding it to your list of shows to watch this summer? Or will you be giving The Hawk a hard pass?
I’ve seen mixed reviews online so far. Some are all in on Will Ferrell playing a golfer who is past his prime. Others are complaining that it feels too close to Happy Gilmore 2. For those feeling the latter, may I direct you to one social media user’s idea?
When are we getting Lonnie “THE HAWK” Hawkins vs. Happy Gilmore??? Netflix you know what to do 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/guRQF3x8o1
— Joseph (@GeneMean5) May 13, 2026
