Kristen Wiig Shocks Everyone: Leading Contender for Original Song at Next Oscars!

When it comes to labeling Kristen Wiig, the term “gifted musician” may be a bit of an overstatement, according to the “Saturday Night Live” alum herself. However, she may soon earn a different title.

Perhaps, “Oscar-nominated musician Kristen Wiig” does the trick?

Indeed, this is now a real possibility: Netflix has revealed plans to back Wiig and Sean Douglas, her co-writer, for an Oscar nomination in the original song category. Their song, a folksy comedic tune titled “Harper and Will Go West,” is featured in the upcoming documentary “Will & Harper,” as confirmed exclusively by The Times. The film, which made its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, will be available on Netflix starting Sept. 27, following a theatrical run for Oscar qualification.

“Will & Harper” Synopsis

“Will & Harper” is a documentary that chronicles the journey of ex-“SNL” star Will Ferrell and his friend, seasoned “SNL” writer Harper Steele, across the U.S. after Steele reveals her identity as a trans woman. Their journey introduces them to trans individuals living in small American towns, explores the hurdles Steele experienced before and after her transition, and covers many other topics. They also take a break in their classic Jeep Wagoneer to engage Wiig, through FaceTime, in writing a “tear-jerking, fun, upbeat, jazzy, and slightly country” theme song for their adventure.

The final product, filmed in Wiig’s backyard and performed with a ukulele and saxophone, is a blend of humor (with the song’s first verse rhyming the title with “a pair of new breasts”) and heartwarming sentiment (“A friend is a friend is a friend … ’til the end”), which mirrors the tone of the film.

“When they called me and said they wanted the song to encompass all these different musical styles, I thought it was kind of funny,” Wiig, a former piano student and choir member who has recently picked up the ukulele, shares with a laugh. However, instead of crafting a full-blown parody, she, Douglas, and the film’s director, Josh Greenbaum, opted for “something less jokey”: “We just wanted a sweet song for the two of them.”

Oscar History with Humorous Songs

Historically, the Oscars’ original song category has recognized songs with comedic elements. For instance, the film academy nominated the satirical and explicit “Blame Canada” from “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” in 2000, while recent years have seen nominations for “Husavik” from the 2020 comedy “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” and “I’m Just Ken” from the 2021 hit film “Barbie.” The latest winner, “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, also came from “Barbie.”