Since the announcement of Netflix’s Eurovision movie, more and more information about the film has slowly come to light. But now, thanks to an article from the June 2020 issue of Total Film, we know much more. So there’s no doubt the hype for Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is going strong.
Total Film’s June 2020 issue article
The film enthusiasts magazine unveiled new and interesting information about the 26 June film.
The first pages feature a picture of Ferrell, who plays Lars, with a ponytail and wearing a retro silver jacket. On the other side of the picture is Rachel McAdams, playing Sigrit, gazing at Lars and wearing a light blue strapless dress.
? | #EurovisionMovie is featured in the current issue of Total Film, which is on newsstands right now. pic.twitter.com/z7BpaDrAe4
— Rachel McAdams [RMO] (@rachelmonline) May 30, 2020
In the article, Ferrell discusses how the idea of the film began. His Swedish wife Viveca Paulin took him to visit her family in Sweden back in 1999. They all then watched Eurovision together, Sweden happened to win and Ferrell fell in love with the contest. Ferrell says he has always known he wanted to make a film about it but he never got the chance. As time went by, Ferrell grew surprised that nobody had made a Eurovision film before and he decided to take matters into his own hands.
New details about the film
The plot is now clearer, too. Lars (who Ferrell portrays) is the son of Pierce Brosnan’s character Erick, a gruff Icelandic fisherman. He and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) form the duo Fire Saga. They live in the real Iceland town of Húsavík, and perform different songs. These include two tunes named “Double Trouble” and “Húsavík”. The film details their journey to winning Söngvakeppnin and realising their dream to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest.
"It was nerve-recking. I sang during theatre, growing up, and in the high-school choir, but never anything on this scale." -Rachel on #EurovisionMovie in Total Film's interview (May 29, 2020) pic.twitter.com/WlfYwjz3Og
— Rachel McAdams [RMO] (@rachelmonline) May 30, 2020
They get to Eurovision where they’re underdogs at the contest, with Russia fittingly being the favourite. The Russian entrant, Alexander Lemtov, is Dan Stevens’ character in the film. According to director David Dobkin, the movie isn’t a parody because the contest itself is a parody. So, in other words… expect a parody. Demi Lovato, who portrays Katiana, doesn’t get a mention. We can assume she isn’t one of the main characters.
Rachel "put in months of work for Eurovision, training with a dialect coach, learning the guitare and piano" according to Total Film. Pictured here alongside costar Ferrell and director Dobkin pic.twitter.com/xS9QmoYQkj
— Rachel McAdams [RMO] (@rachelmonline) May 30, 2020
The article includes a bevy of stills from the film. On one picture, a stunning McAdams is performing a lovely ballad on the Tel Aviv stage. In another, Fire Saga and Dobkin are in a press conference, with the flags of the participating countries behind them (The Netherlands Antilles, a defunct South American nation, is included too for some reason). The scenes generally look well thought out and realistic. Inspired by Ukraine’s 2014 performance, there will even be a man in a hamster wheel!
Preparing for the role, Ferrell and McAdams both worked with vocal coaches and Icelandic dialectic coaches. McAdams listened to a lot of Björk to really get the Iceland in. Hopefully, the vocal coach will help Fire Saga beat the problems in their way and conquer Europe.
What do you think of the new information? Will Eurofans like what they see? Sound off in the comments below!
“It’s not a parody, because the contest itself is a parody”
Oh, great.
I know us fans who constantly check this site love the contest but let’s face it we are a small minority. Let’s not be acting fanatical and let’s face facts that there’s others out there who do not hold the contest in such high regard. I’m looking forward to the film and if it means parody or not, that more people will watch the contest next year, I’m up for that.
Pierce Brosnan is playing Will Ferrell’s father? Is that right?
Will Ferrell isn’t exactly a young looking 52 year old man either…
Maybe he plays his father in a flashback scene.
I’m worried this will just make Eurovision seem like a big joke to those who haven’t seen it before. I’ve liked the way songs are more radio friendly these days so that they can get some attention outside the “Eurovision bubble” and seen as good songs to listen to.
Tbh.. I’ve never really even liked Will Ferell in any movie…
I’ve seen the film already and I really enjoyed it as yes it is a comedy film but it has heart and a nice story to it I can’t wait to see it again
how have you seen it already??
I saw it too. My favourite scene was when someone called James claimed he saw the movie but actually didn’t and Attention played in the background.
I heard the Russian character is based of Sergey (apparently) they haven’t made him into a stereotypical Russian villian have they? I am worried ?
Topless Russian… might as well be based on Dima Bilan.
To add to the comments on the UK attutide to the contest. The BBC are the ones who air the show and apparently have a great love for it. More than ever I am getting a bit frustrated and angry at the sly remarks and jibes coming from the presenters. Graham Norton has always had a go at the show mostly at the expense of the other songs. He hasn’t a clue musically because he thought the French song was a masterpiece and Bulgarias song didn’t have a prayer. More disappointing to me was Ken Bruce who I hold in… Read more »
I actually think Bulgaria was overrated and so was impressed that Graham thought the same. Then, he went and said that Ireland had a great chance of winning this year…
How can you say that someone hasn’t a clue musically just because they like different songs to you?!?!? What a narrow minded statement.
In the Swedish alternative contest, France received 5 points from the televote and Bulgaria received nothing. So it’s not just Mr Norton who liked the French song over Bulgaria.
Sorry to be off topic but can the Wiwibloggs team tell me whether they are going to react to the shine a light show. I know it’s two weeks ago but it’s the nearest thing we had to a show and I would be interested in your opinions. Also could you comment on this film after it’s aired. Thanks.
How is the contest a parody? It’s like he has never heard of amazing songs like Euphoria, Fairytale and all the times he has come across Eurovision he has only seen joke entries. I am certain this will be a bad film (a box office bomb if it was in cinemas), maybe even worse than cats lol. I hate how Eurovision is treated in other parts of the world and the uk (where I live). Why does no one pay attention to the amazing songs? I don’t understand how you can be a fan and make a joke of the… Read more »
IKR! We have so many countries with amazing songs, diverse cultures and interesting people. The USA and people like Norton don’t seem to understand something if it’s not about them. Euphoria, Répondez-moi and Fairytale are a few of my favourites and there are so many talented artists like Hatari, Salvador Sobral or Jamala.
“According to director David Dobkin, the movie isn’t a parody because the contest itself is a parody. So, in other words… expect a parody.” What an ***hole. I don’t know this guy but I can tell he is like those arrogant and recalcitrant guys who try too hard to be funny and think of themselves they are the 8th wonder. As the movie is aimed to the American public and not the European public/fans, I don’t know why the EBU has lent itself to such nonsense. The Eurovision brand is going to be known as no more than joke and… Read more »
So as we come closer to the premiere, it’s getting more and more clear that this movie is gonna be utterly rubbish. Parodies like this are cheap productions and Will Ferrell only focuses on the joke part of ESC and making fun of the contest. Eurovision is not only these cheesy, meaningless entries. I dare to say that this Eurovision was one of the best and more serious (Russia? Iceland? What are these???) and songs like Grow, Répondez-moi, Empires and much more are being treated unfairly…
I don’t want to exagerate but it feels like a kind of “cultural appropriation” to me. Sure, we have crazy cheesy entries and we make fun of them but it always feels different when the actual Eurovision fans make these jokes (versus other people). We may make fun of them but we also care about the serious entries. People from outside of the Eurovision bubble seem to only focus on the crazy part and that’s how a parody can become a mockery.
That’s what I mean. It would make more sense if the movie was aimed to the European public. At least it could be funny. But this way is disrespectful.
…You don’t have a full grasp of what the term “cultural appropriation” means, do you?
I think Eurovision can be considered a culturally relevant event especially when taking into consideration why it was created in the first place. And calling a contest where Joci Papai sang about his struggles as a Roma-Hungarian (“Origo”), MadameMonsieur had a song about the real story of an immigrant baby born on a rescue ship, and a Sámi man (Fred of KEiiNO)was singing in the traditional joik style (which was, by the way, considered sinful and partially even prohibited during the forceful conversation to Christianity), just to name a few, a parody does seem very culturally insensitive. Was Bilal Hassani,… Read more »
His wife should have hid everything Eurovision to him in the first place. I feel like not wanting to watch this horror film at all.
Tel Aviv is so proud of their stage that they’re not happy only with wide shots, why not put it in a movie too
This sounds like a lot of fun, something we greatly need in times like these.
The contest is a parody istelf? Has this dude ever watched ESC? Wow that’s extremely rude to the fans, and very insulting to the thousands of people who put their hearts and souls into this.
You could say some entries were joke acts (Spain 2008) but many of the delegations have worked extremely hard to make eurovision a great music contest again lol.
I guess this movie is trying to sound funny but the more I read about it, the more offended I seem to be.
Yes, the director is out of touch For me no act is joke, and Spain 2008 had a message
Then don’t watch and gain some sense of humor.
You talk like every fan like joke entries. That’s not true. Starting from that point, the rest of your argument is invalid.
Also you can tell the “serious” fans aren’t happy with the movie. I guess the cheesy fans are more relaxed about it. Some party, glitter, max-power fans and a lot of dancing divas will make it for them. You have probably one of those above.
If you are talking about songs like “Uno” then you are kind of right. If you are talking about songs like “On Fire” or “Think About Things” I disagree, cause those are more than just joke entries. They are clever, interesting and a have a message. As much as I want the contest to be serious and get rid of the circus, I can’t say they are joke entries. So yeah, there are a lot of people that support songs like “Uno” and want Eurovision to become a circus but that isn’t the majority by any means. We have almost… Read more »
Music isn’t only about a song. Songs are the most important thing to me but every relevant live show has edgy/weird performances. I suppose your also against Lady Gaga, Madonna, MTV awards, etc. Cause it’s almost the same. Anyway, I’ve always complained (and every usual user could tell) about joke entries because the bad reputation Eurovision gets outside the bubble. But I’m not that kind of purist that consider every single weird song a problem. Portugal 2019 was pretty interesting, same as Lithuania and Iceland this year. Not the usual pop/mainstream stuff, bu neither a joke. The surface may look… Read more »
It is extremely rude indeed – and also a very uneducated comment to make. The contest itself certainly isn’t a parody and only a minority of the entries could be considered parodies (this year, only Russia’s song and maybe some elements of the Icelandic live performance could be considered a parody).
Only one gripe. They should have used an authentic Icelandic singer like Yohanna or Greta Salome for the voice. Why a Swedish singer. Apart from that it should be a lot of fun. Let’s face it, after this years non event any Eurovision related entertainment is very much appreciated.
The film is not a parody because the contest is a parody… first of all, offensive much? And second it looks like it’s a fun movie for all but ESC die hard fans.
Like, eurofans voted Dima Bilal just 10 years ago where he did this pathetic chest-revealing and everyone complains that ESC is a joke.
Comments like yours are the exact reason why the lyrics of On Fire are actually relevant. “On Fire” is certainly not the best composed song of this year, but it’s modern. It’s not far from what gets played on the radio these days. And if you go as far as criticising the live performance in particular – “Tones and I”, known for the massive hit “Dance Monkey”, is doing silly dances on stage, wearing unconventional stage outfits – and she’s doing excellently in terms of success.
Ana, your comment about age is so mean and rude. Maybe I have wrong impression, but you talk like someone who hates Eurovision in general. Btw, I will take that ”40 year old man” who can sing and dance anytime over Madonna disaster on stage last year. I know Hollywood movies like to sterotype everything, but Eurovision is not just ”weird dances and music” it is about spreading message of love, unity, celebrating differences, but obviously you don’t get it. If that is the reason someone calls me ”weird” than I say proudly that I am weird.
They did. Teh filmed parts of the crowd and performed snippets of the songs.