Will Ferrell Made Some Truly Ridiculous Demands To Star In A Film That Ended Up Losing $10 Million At The Box Office

Will Ferrell's demands for his Semi-Pro promotional tour were nothing short of absurd.

Saturday Night Live alum Will Ferrell has charmed his way into fans' hearts with iconic roles in unforgettable productions like Elf, Anchorman, Get Hard, and most recently, Barbie. However, even comedy juggernauts of Ferrell’s caliber are not completely impervious to the occasional swing and miss, and Ferrell hasn’t swung and missed harder than when he agreed to star in Semi-Pro, a 2008 sports comedy that not only left critics far from impressed, but also left a staggering $10 million crater at the box office.

But the lackluster box office performance isn’t the only bewildering aspect of this film. Before signing on to the ill-fated production, Will Ferrell crafted a tour rider so absurd, it left many scratching their heads in wonder. So, what exactly were the comedy maestro’s backstage must-haves, and were they absolutely necessary?

As a comedic mainstay on the long-running sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL), Will Ferrell carved his name as a master of impersonations. Whether channeling renowned singer Neil Diamond or former US President George W. Bush, the now 56-year-old had an uncanny ability to capture the eccentricities of practically anyone with astonishing precision.

However, it wasn't until his foray into filmmaking that the world truly witnessed the extent of his comedic brilliance. After refining his acting chops with a slew of supporting roles in blockbusters like Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Zoolander, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Ferrell went on to star in acclaimed comedies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Elf, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby; ultimately becoming one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood.

Yet, amidst these triumphs lie a few truly unforgettable misadventures; one of which is the 2008 sports comedy; Semi-Pro. Debuting in February 2008, Semi-Pro stars Will Ferrell as the eccentric Jackie Moon; a one-hit wonder turned owner, coach, and captain of the Flint Tropics; an ABA team spiraling to financial ruin.

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Armed with a flamboyant afro and an equally flamboyant personality, Moon embarks on a truly outrageous journey to save the team from financial ruin and secure its merger into the NBA. From wrestling a bear during halftime shows, to staging bizarre marketing stunts, and rallying the team with absurd motivational speeches, Ferrell's portrayal of Moon is an endless stockpile of shenanigans.

But Ferrell’s portrayal of Moon isn’t nearly the most ridiculous aspect of this movie. As detailed in a contract unearthed by Smoking Gun, the now 56-year-old went ahead and crafted a tour rider so extravagant, it bordered on absurd.

Among his backstage must-haves; an electric three-wheel mobility scooter, presumably to add a bit of flair to his stage entries and exits. Next on the list of essentials was a Janet Jackson-style headset microphone, which, believe it or not, turned out to be one of the more reasonable demands in the rider, as the now 56-year-old went on to demand a collection of mobile props so outrageous, it boggles the imagination how the film's production team was able to bring his whimsical vision to life.

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To begin with, the Elf star demanded a flight of stairs, standing about six feet high, on wheels, presumably to liven up those dull moments backstage with a portable obstacle course . But the comedic capers didn’t stop there. Ferrell went on to demand a fake tree, also on wheels, towering approximately 15–20 feet. And the pièce de resistance of the outlandish rider; a rainbow of unspecified dimensions, also on wheels.

Despite Will Ferrell’s valiant efforts, Semi-Pro turned out to be a critical and commercial catastrophe. In its opening weekend, the film mustered a meager $15 million, a far cry from Ferrell's previous hits, such as Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory, which had pulled in $47 million and $33 million, respectively, in their debut weekends.

The film managed to garner $33,479,698 domestically and $10,405,206 internationally, tallying up to a disappointing $43,884,904 worldwide. When all was said and done, the sports spoof had fallen short of its production budget by over $10 million; a disappointing turn of events for Ferrell, who’d clearly gone above and beyond to promote it.

Things didn’t exactly go swimmingly on the critical front either, as the film was almost universally panned. For some critics, Ferrell’s performance in the film left a lot to be desired. “[Will Ferrell] has been playing variations of Elf for five years, and his antics have grown as stale as Jackie's socks,” a critic from New York Daily News wrote of the film. “He doesn't get much help, either. None of the other characters are developed, and the other comedy actors - Rob Corddry, as a creepy Monix fan, Will Arnett, as a boozing TV announcer - are given nothing funny to say or do in Scot Armstrong's script.”

However, for others, Ferrell’s comedic genius was the film’s sole saving grace, turning an otherwise unwatchable film into something somewhat palatable. “The real problem with Semi-Pro, about a raggedy-ass ABA hoops team dying from dumbass incompetence and fan neglect in 1976, is that it’s only semi-funny,” wrote Peter Travers of RollingStone.

“But even when the script, by Scott Armstrong, shoots air balls, Ferrell is a slam-dunk. In a white afro and short-shorts, he kicks it Seventies old-school as Jackie Moon, the owner, coach and star player of a Michigan team called the Flint Tropics.”

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The film currently holds an unimpressive 22% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a critical consensus that reads, "Semi-Pro is an intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts."

Vicky is a features writer who's worked with Valnet Inc. since 2023. She is an avid enthusiast of movies, reality TV, and celebrity lifestyle.