John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss
With the aid of a combover, mustache and print-filled closet, the Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story star changes into the self-made millionaire and bulk owner of the Lakers throughout the group’s Showtime period.
Prior to Reilly signing up with the series, Michael Shannon was set to depict the epicDr Buss, however he left due to innovative distinctions. “It really bugged Michael that we were breaking the fourth wall,” executive manufacturer Adam McKay described to The Hollywood Reporter. “He kept saying, ‘I don’t like this. It throws me. I’m having a hard time.'”
The casting choice would wind up triggering the continuous rift in between McKay and long time pal and partner Will Ferrell, who revealed his interest in playing Buss and just discovered Reilly would be taking control of the part after he got a call from his Stepbrothers co-star.
Looking back, McKay confessed to THR that he “f–ked up” by not connecting to Ferrell ahead of time.
“It was at this weird moment where Will and I weren’t exactly hugging each other, even though there was nothing that terrible and he called Will and said, ‘Hey, McKay just came to me with this,'” McKay remembered. “And Will was very hurt that I wasn’t the one to call him, and I should have.”
Reilly, on the other hand, stated, “Will is one of my best friends, Adam is one of my best friends, I was delighted to get the job and that’s all I really have to say.”
