Will Ferrell’s recent documentary, Will & Harper, has stirred some conversation, particularly around a moment that director Josh Greenbaum chose to keep in the final cut. The film, which debuted on Netflix, features a cross-country road trip with Ferrell and his longtime friend Harper Steele, who publicly came out as a transgender woman at 61.
During the trip, Ferrell invited Steele to join him from New York, aiming to discuss life while capturing it on camera. The journey included a humorous segment where Ferrell donned his Sherlock Holmes outfit from the 2018 film Holmes & Watson at a Texas steakhouse. However, while attempting a steak-eating challenge, the atmosphere changed as other diners started focusing on Steele, leading to a wave of negative comments on social media.
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The backlash highlighted the unexpected attention on Steele, prompting Ferrell to express regret for unintentionally putting her in a vulnerable position. Greenbaum decided it was essential to include this part of their journey, stating, “Not all attention is good attention, especially for those in the trans community.” He emphasized that such experiences reflect the harsh reality many in the trans community face.
According to Greenbaum, a significant insight from their research indicated that a staggering 70% of people do not personally know any trans individuals. By sharing Steele’s story, the film aims to humanize the trans experience for viewers who might otherwise lack exposure to it.
Steele acknowledged the possibility that she might be the first trans person many viewers encounter, though she didn’t dwell on that notion. Commenting on a statistic she found surprising—that more people report seeing aliens than knowing trans individuals—she highlighted the importance of representing the trans community within the broader queer narrative.
Ferrell approached the project with an open mindset, stating, “It would just be whatever it’s going to end up being.” Their filming journey led them to Santa Monica, where they concluded with uncertainty about the outcome, but ultimately cherished the experience.