Netflix’s latest venture into feature films involves none other than actor and mockumentary director extraordinaire, Christopher Guest. The film, entitled Mascots, was announced by Netflix via a mock flyer for a mascot competition, and will presumably bring Guest’s hilarious comedic slant to the intricate world of big furry costumes, and pale dead eyes.
As Variety reports, Mascots will follow the “unusual” contestants in the 8th World Mascot Association championships, with both men and women alike donning their furry garb, and showcasing their best moves for a bid to take home the coveted prize, the Gold Fluffy Award.
While Guest is perhaps best known for Spinal Tap, which (for those living under a rock) follows the exploits of an arena rock band past their prime and at the end of their rope, the filmmaker has a unique talent for transforming the most mundane moments and idiosyncrasies of just about any subject into comedic gold, as displayed in splendid fashion in films like A Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffman, and Best in Show. With a ripe landscape to work with in Mascots, Guest will no doubt find plenty of chances for his comedic exploits to unfold.
Little is known about the project at this time, but it is presumed that Mascots will employ a healthy number of actors from Guest’s usual cast of improv players, which has included in the past Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, Jon Michael Higgins, Catherine O’Hara, Fred Willard, and Bob Balaban, as well as occasional appearances by Spinal Tap alums Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean.
Mascots is just the latest endeavor that is part of Netflix’s aggressive transition into feature film distribution, following other upcoming projects like Idris Elba’s new African war film Beasts of No Nation, Brad Pitt’s War Machine, and the Judd Apatow-produced Pee-wee Herman sequel, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, to name a few. Netflix has also inked exclusive deals with filmmakers, including four-picture deals with both Adam Sandler, and the Duplass brothers, Mark and Jay.
There’s no word yet as to a final release date for Mascots, but the film is expected to premiere sometime next year.
