In a move that has the makings of a bad “Saturday Night Live” skit, former “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Jason Priestly is set to direct a biopic of “SNL” veteran Phil Hartman titled “Nice Guy Phil,” TheWrap has learned.
Daran Norris is set to star as the late comedian, who was murdered by his wife hours before she killed herself in May 1998.
Tyler Levine of Toronto-based Carousel Productions is producing the movie, which reportedly has the support of Hartman’s estate. Production is slated to start next summer.
Hartman was a gifted impressionist who spent eight seasons on “SNL” before going on to star on the NBC sitcom “NewsRadio.” Priestley met Hartman when he hosted “SNL” in 1992, and the two stayed in touch.
Priestley recently made his directorial debut with “Cas & Dylan,” an indie movie starring Richard Dreyfuss and Tatiana Maslany. He’s represented by APA and Thruline Entertainment.
The news was first reported by Variety.