Owen Wilson Has A Paintbrush And A Perm In The Trailer For Bob Ross-Inspired Comedy Paint
He has the perm, he has the paintbrushes — heck, he even has the verbal elegancies. But Owen Wilson's new independent comedy, "Paint," is no Bob Ross biopic.
"I hope Owen Wilson got some good lawyers before he made this," joked Twitter user @cfmceroz1 after watching the movie's first trailer on Wednesday, February 8.
Despite the uncanny resemblance, happy little trees and clouds appear to be the least of Carl Nargle's worries in the upcoming IFC Films' indie flick, which hits theaters in April. As described by the film's synopsis, Wilson's Nargle is a public television painter riding high on the success of his Vermont TV show. The calm and cool artist is eventually faced with a career-defining crisis when another paint phenom surfaces with her own program and swipes his spotlight. "[Nargle] is convinced he has it all," the synopsis says. "A signature perm, custom van, and fans hanging on his every stroke," it explains, "until a younger, better artist steals everything (and everyone) Carl loves."
First announced in November 2021, "Paint" was reportedly purchased by IFC Films off the 2010 Blacklist screenplay roster (via Deadline). The story was penned by Brit McAdams, who is also set to direct. IFC's first trailer for the movie featured a number of callbacks to Ross' classic painting techniques and iconic looks, but with a unique spin on his career path and a full-fledged fictional downfall.
Owen Wilson plays a Bob Ross-esque character who is losing it all
"It's hard not to feel a little lost as we begin," Owen Wilson says at the start of IFC Films' "Paint" trailer, channeling his inner Bob Ross. "Let's just take it all in." It doesn't take long for viewers to learn how Carl Nargle's life isn't as picture-perfect as it seems.
"There is nothing like having the one you hold dearest nearest when the world turns cold," Wilson's Nargle continues, eerily foreshadowing the apparent social storm that's on his horizon. "Don't let fame bring out the worst in you," another character, played by Michaela Watkins, tells him. "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" star Ciara Renée, who portrays Nargle's young and hip rival, can be seen in the trailer stealing away the painter's fanbase. "It takes paint to a whole new place," a woman says about the rival show, dubbed "Paint with Ambrosia."
2023 is shaping up to be a massive year for Wilson, who has multiple projects coming down the Hollywood pipeline, including "Loki" Season 2 and Disney's "Haunted Mansion" reboot. He most recently starred in the Paramount film "Secret Headquarters" and the Jennifer Lopez-led 2022 romantic dramedy "Marry Me" (via IMDb). Ross, meanwhile, was last profiled in 2021's eye-opening Netflix documentary "Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed," which told the business side of his story.