John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan to star in Shakespeare comedy The Players

John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan will star in a new Shakespeare comedy film titled *The Players*. The movie is inspired by the rivalry between American actor Edwin Forrest and English actor William MacCready in 1847 New York. Peter Cattaneo will direct the film, with a script by Jeff Pope. Production is set to begin in early 2025 in Europe. The story follows Forrest, who faces competition from MacCready when he arrives to perform Hamlet. Reilly and Coogan previously worked together on the 2018 film *Stan & Ollie*. Both actors have received nominations for prestigious awards in their careers.