LOS ANGELES — “‘Talented musician’ might be a little strong” to describe Kristen Wiig, the “Saturday Night Live” veteran demurs when complimented about her chops. So another label will have to do. How about “Oscar nominated musician Kristen Wiig”?
It’s now a distinct possibility: Netflix will campaign for Wiig and co-writer Sean Douglas in the original song category for the folksy comic ditty “Harper and Will Go West,” from the forthcoming documentary “Will & Harper,” the company confirmed exclusively to The Times. The film, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, arrives on Netflix on Sept. 27 after an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run.
“Will & Harper” follows former “SNL” star Will Ferrell and his friend, longtime “SNL” writer Harper Steele, on a cross-country road trip after Steele comes out as a trans woman. Along the way, they meet trans people carving out a life in small-town America, discuss the challenges Steele faced pre- and post-transition and more. They also park their classic Jeep Wagoneer to conscript Wiig, via FaceTime, to write a theme song for their journey.
The resulting number, filmed in Wiig’s backyard accompanied by ukulele and saxophone, combines humor and heartfelt emotion in a way that reflects the film as a whole.
