Will Ferrell’s “The Hawk” Swings Into Netflix’s Comedy Lineup

Netflix released the ten-episode series “The Hawk,” starring Will Ferrell as former PGA star Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins. The show follows Hawkins’ attempt to reclaim a Grand Slam while contending with his son Lance (Jimmy Tatro) and longtime rival Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson). It streams on Netflix now and marks Ferrell’s first regular role in a scripted television comedy.

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Ferrell’s career has long intertwined comedy with sports, from *Talladega Nights* to *Blades of Glory*. The series was created by Ferrell, longtime SNL writer Harper Steele, and frequent collaborator Chris Henchy. Molly Shannon, a former SNL castmate, and Ferrell first worked together on SNL in 1995 and later in films such as *A Night at the Roxbury* and *Talladega Nights*. Their long-standing friendship helped shape the project’s collaborative tone.

People Magazine

• Will Ferrell – Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins (lead, also creator)

People Magazine

• Molly Shannon – Stacy, Lonnie’s estranged wife

People Magazine

• Jimmy Tatro – Lance Hawkins, Lonnie’s PGA-tour son

Arizona Daily Sun

• Luke Wilson – Golden Fisk, Lonnie’s rival

Arizona Daily Sun

• Fortune Feimster – Sam, an unlikely caddie discovered in a Walmart parking lot

People Magazine

• Harper Steele – Executive producer, former SNL writer

Arizona Daily Sun

• Chris Henchy – Executive producer, frequent Ferrell collaborator

Arizona Daily Sun

Rotten Tomatoes reports a 32 percent aggregate score for *The Hawk*, the lowest rating Ferrell has received on the platform. Critics have highlighted dated humor, an unlikable central character, and a perceived lack of narrative depth.

The Independent

Shannon explained her immediate commitment, noting that she “didn’t need to see anything” before accepting the role. Ferrell emphasized the ease of working with longtime friends, saying they “laugh at certain behavior patterns that we see in each other.” Both actors described the collaboration as a protective, low-pressure environment rooted in their shared SNL history.

People Magazine

Multiple reviewers argue the series falls short of Ferrell’s earlier sports comedies. The Independent’s Louis Chilton called Ferrell “a performer whose glory days have seemingly passed,” while The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg labeled the show “a show that consistently operates at a barely minimal level.” Heavy.com noted that Lonnie remains “loud, impulsive and self-centered” throughout ten episodes, limiting emotional impact. Critics also point to uneven plot mechanics, underdeveloped side characters, and humor that feels “stuck in the 1990s.”

The Independent

*The Hawk* represents Ferrell’s first foray as a series regular on a major streaming service, testing his brand in a longer-form format. The mixed reception may influence future decisions about extending the series or pursuing similar projects, while the involvement of veteran comedy talent underscores Netflix’s strategy of leveraging established film comedians for original television content.

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Some reviewers, such as the Houston Press, praise the series’ “heart” and the chemistry between Ferrell and Feimster, contrasting with the predominantly negative assessments cited above. No source provides concrete information about renewal plans or audience viewership metrics, leaving the series’ commercial prospects unclear.

The Independent

• “When Will asked me, ‘Molly, can you play my wife on this show?’ I was like, ‘Yes. I don’t need to see anything. I’m in.’ You know what I mean?” — Molly Shannon, Actress

People Magazine

• “I think we both laugh at certain behavior patterns that we see in each other,” — Will Ferrell, Actor

People Magazine

• “Ferrell is a performer whose glory days have seemingly passed. Where once he ruled the box office, now he’s grinding out a comeback on Netflix.” — Louis Chilton, Critic, *The Independent*

The Independent

• “a show that consistently operates at a barely minimal level.” — Daniel Fienberg, Critic, *The Hollywood Reporter*

The Independent

• “Lonnie is portrayed as loud, impulsive and self-centered – traits that have often defined Ferrell’s most memorable characters.” — Heavy.com reviewer

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