Movies

'Stan & Ollie' to close the London Film Festival

By Karen Butler   |   Aug. 3, 2018 at 7:52 AM
John C. Reilly's "Stan & Ollie" is set to close the London Film Festival Oct. 21. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI Steve Coogan arrives on the red carpet at the 45th International Emmy Awards in New York City on November 20, 2017. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Nina Arianda arrives on the red carpet at the "Florence Foster Jenkins" premiere on August 9, 2016 in New York City. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Cast member Danny Huston attends the premiere of "Game Night" in Los Angeles on February 21. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Stan & Ollie, starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the famed, 20th-century comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, is to have its world premiere at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival.

The movie will be screened Oct. 21 as the centerpiece of the festival's closing night gala. Co-starring Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston and Nina Arianda, Stan & Ollie is set for release in U.K. theaters Jan. 19.

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"I'm really proud to be able to give the film its world premiere in London; a city that's so dear to myself and I know was to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Stan & Ollie, at its heart, is a love story between old friends, who just happen to be two of the most iconic comedic characters in Hollywood's history. I'm really excited to have the closing night film and to bring the movie to a festival audience," the film's director John S. Baird said in a statement Friday.

Coogan is best known for his portrayal of fictional media personality Alan Partridge on several, British comedy series. Reilly's credits include Step Brothers, Chicago, The Good Girl and Gangs of New York.