Laurel and Hardy Biopic in the Works

LONDON: A 90-minute biopic about the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy is being produced by the BBC's in-house comedy department in association with The Weinstein Company and Lookout Point.

The feature, titled Stan and Ollie, will tell the story of the pair's U.K. tour in 1953, which wound up being their last. It is being penned by screenwriter Jeff Pope (Philomena, Mrs Biggs). Stan and Ollie is a BBC In-House Comedy/BBC Worldwide/Lookout Point co-production for BBC One. Saurabh Kakkar for the BBC and Simon Vaughan for Lookout Point are executive producers together with Harvey Weinstein for The Weinstein Company.

Charlotte Moore, the controller of BBC One, said: "Stan and Ollie demonstrates the fabulous range of comedy on BBC One. Written by Jeff Pope, this is a poignant single film about one of Britain's best loved double-acts."

Shane Allen, the controller of BBC comedy commissioning, added: “Stan and Ollie is Jeff’s love letter to two pioneers and enduring giants of screen comedy. It beautifully captures the deep emotional bond forged over a lifelong partnership as they reflect on their rollercoaster careers through the prism of this final U.K. farewell tour. An epic story about the world’s most famous comedy double-act to date, told with great insight and heart.”

"This is the perfect BBC/Weinstein collaboration—a British drama with Hollywood DNA. Harvey's talent relationships will help us bring this to the screen with huge ambition," added Lookout Point's Simon Vaughan.