Another SNL Spin-Off: ‘MacGruber’ Movie with Crazy Cast

Published by Jeff Leins on: July 8th, 2009

Another “Saturday Night Live” character is being spun off the sketch comedy show and into a feature film.  One of the show’s comedians, Will Forte, will star in MacGruber, a spoof of TV’s “MacGyver.”

“SNL” cast member, Kristen Wiig, will reprise her role as his sidekick Vicki from the late night skits.  This marks the eighth spin-off movie directly from the show (if you count Wayne’s World and its sequel) and produced by its creator, Lorne Michaels.

How are they going to turn the goofy, unfunny bit into a 90 minute movie? According to the Hollywood Reporter, the story is about how the legendary, much decorated MacGruber is pulled out of retirement as a monk in Ecuador by a colonel, who needs him once more to fight on behalf of his country. This time the mission involves going up against the evil Cunth, who has a nuclear warhead.  The mission is personal because Cunth killed MacGruber’s bride.  Sounds original…

Here’s where things get really strange: Ryan Phillippe and Val Kilmer are in negotiations to join the movie. Phillippe would play Piper, an Army officer forced to pair up with a reluctant MacGruber, and Kilmer would be Cunth.  “SNL’s” Jorma Taccone (Cha-Ka from Land of the Lost) and John Solomon co-wrote the script with Forte.  Taccone will direct (his first feature).

Meanwhile, New Line Cinema is planning a straight action adaptation of MacGyver with Lee David Zlotoff, the creator/writer of the series.