Will Ferrell Officially Ranks His Funniest Sports Movie Characters Ahead of Netflix’s ‘The Hawk’

“They call him The Hawk. He’s a golfer. The greatest golfer in the world!” That’s the short yet sweet theme song to Netflix’s new sports comedy series, The Hawk, and it sums up exactly what you’re about to get. Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins (Will Ferrell) was a champion-level golfer during his prime, but after losing to his rival, Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson), he’s never quite made it back. Meanwhile, his marriage to Stacy (Molly Shannon) is on the rocks, while his son, Lance (Jimmy Tatro), is a golf star on the rise. Despite it all, Lonnie believes his glory days aren’t behind him, and after he recruits a new caddy, played by Fortune Feimster, he might have what it takes to stage the greatest comeback.

Ahead of the show’s release, Collider’s Meredith Loftus sat down with Ferrell and Shannon to discuss the sports comedy. Ferrell explains how assembling the creative team and the cast gave him the confidence that The Hawk could be something great. As longtime collaborators, Shannon and Ferrell share how their dynamic has, in many ways, remained the same as it’s been since their days on Saturday Night Live. Plus, the duo look back at Ferrell’s previous athletic characters, like Blades of Glory‘s Chazz Michael Michaels, and determine where Lonnie ranks among them. You can watch the full interview above or read the transcript below.

Will Ferrell Describes How Casting Was Key to Making ‘The Hawk’ Work

“It really feels like Will put together a great team.”

COLLIDER: If there was a mini-golf tournament with the cast, who do you think would win?

MOLLY SHANNON: Mini golf? Like putt-putt. Okay.

WILL FERRELL: You know what? I don’t know. We’ve never played mini-golf. I don’t mean to disparage your talents as a mini-golfer. I feel like Fortune [Feimster] would be really good at putt-putt golf.

SHANNON: Yeah. That’s a good one.

I’ll definitely have to ask and see if she’s up to snuff.

FERRELL: But I think Jimmy [Tatro] and Luke [Wilson], everyone would get really competitive. And I think Molly and I, we wouldn’t care so much.

SHANNON: No. Yeah, exactly.

Well, Lonnie did care a little bit.

FERRELL: Oh yeah, Lonnie did for sure.

Will, when did you know that The Hawk would be something special as you were developing it? What was the moment that clicked, like, “I think this could be something good?”

FERRELL: I think when we assembled our creative team, and we were all on the same page, and with Netflix’s blessing, we wanted to make it feel cinematic. We want to have it look lush and beautiful on the golf course. We know we’re going to follow some sort of sports arc, but we want to have outlandish characters who are imperfect people, at their throats all the time. Once we started weaving in what that meant in terms of the individual arcs, and of course, the casting was a big part of filling that out, as well. Between Molly and Luke and Fortune and…

[Child screams in the distance.]

FERRELL: That child again. That child was screaming earlier, and I had to admonish that child. I’m sorry about that.

It’s OK!

FERRELL: But to have a cast rounded out that way. So there are many different steps, and then you’re filming it, and everyone brings it to life in a way that you didn’t imagine. I think we were feeling like, “Oh, this could be really fun and feel different all at the same time.” Especially for a sports comedy.

SHANNON: It really feels like Will put together a great team and surrounded himself with friends. Some of us have worked together for many years before, so it just feels like working with your friends. Doesn’t it feel that way, truly?

FERRELL: Yeah.

SHANNON: And I think that’s a special skill, too, for Will to take care of himself in a way where he feels supported, which he deserves.

FERRELL: [Laughs] Thank you.

SHANNON: [Laughs] I was like, “Where is this going to land?” It’s serious.

FERRELL: I know, it got serious.

What’s the Key Ingredient to Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon’s Relationship?

“We’re never going to have an argument over what we both think is funny.”

Image via Netflix

But it does lead perfectly into my next question, because the two of you have worked together for so long. What parts of your dynamic have you seen evolve over the years working together, and how has it stayed the same, being friends as long as you have?

FERRELL: We’re never going to have an argument over what we both think is funny. I don’t know if you’ve seen Cord and Tish do the Rose Parade. Once again, our first choice was like, “God, Molly would be so good at this.” We’re over-the-top entertainment hosts announcing and Molly was like, “Great. I know exactly who this person is.” And we just locked into being… So, we never have to have that conversation. The shorthand is already there.

SHANNON: And then old-fashioned stuff, like I was like, “Will, if I goof up or whatever, just hit my knee.” Remember?

FERRELL: [Taps Shannon’s knee] “Molly, your turn.”

SHANNON: Do you remember that?

FERRELL: Yeah.

SHANNON: Because we had to wake up really early in the morning to do the Rose Parade in Pasadena, and I went to Will as a guide. I was nervous a week before about not getting enough sleep, and, “How are we going to wake up at 2:00 a.m. to be there at 4:30 a.m.?” And Will’s never worried about sleep. He taught me not to worry, that you can still perform really well. I learned that from Will. So, Will’s constantly on my mind when I’m shooting. He doesn’t care about that. He’s fine with any amount of sleep.

What a skill, honestly.

SHANNON: That’s a skill.

Where Does Lonnie Hawk Rank Among Will Ferrell’s Other Sports Characters?

“Ice skating is hard, let’s face it.”

Molly, I’d like you to rank these athletes. We’ve got Ricky Bobby, Lonnie Hawkins, Chazz Michael Michaels, and Jackie Moon. How do you rank them?

SHANNON: Whoa! Ooh. That’s hard. This is really hard.

FERRELL: [Laughs] I like that you’re taking it seriously.

SHANNON: I’m going to say Lonnie first, then Ricky, then Chazz, then Bobby…

FERRELL: Jackie.

SHANNON: Jackie. [Laughs] This is not a good question for me. Sticks.

FERRELL: Sticks. See, some might argue Ricky’s not that much of an athlete because you’re just driving a car.

I mean, it is a little bit about timing.

FERRELL: So maybe an ice skater’s a better athlete, and a basketball player, right? But not a good question for Molly.

SHANNON: No, because I’m not…

FERRELL: No judgment.

Well, how would you rank them?

FERRELL: I would say, from a pure athletic standpoint, Chazz Michael Michaels — ice skating is hard, let’s face it — and then an ABA basketball player, Hawk third, Ricky Bobby fourth.

The Hawk premieres on Netflix July 16th.

The Hawk

Release Date

July 16, 2026

Network

Netflix

Directors

Jonathan Watson

Writers

Madeline Walter, Paul Welsh, Jerry Collins, Emma Rathbone, Cameron Squires, Harper Steele, Chris Henchy