Netflix is officially diving into the world of Norm Macdonald, and they’ve tapped Judd Apatow to lead the charge. The streaming giant has greenlit a new documentary on the late comedy legend, and Apatow is already on the hunt for rare footage, lost interviews, and the best Norm moments the internet (or your old VHS collection) has to offer.
Apatow announced the project on Instagram, putting out an open call for “photos and videos of Norm Macdonald” to help bring the documentary to life. “If you just know about any interviews or interesting videos you think we may not have heard about or be able to find ourselves—that would also be very helpful,” he wrote. “Or just tell us your favorite Norm moments.”
Macdonald, of course, is best remembered for his dry-as-a-desert wit and legendary five-season run on SNL. But he was also a man of faith, unafraid to weave theological musings into his comedy. “Scripture. Faith. Grace. Christ, Glory of God,” he tweeted in 2017. “Smart man says nothing is a miracle. I say everything is.” He also had no patience for lazy shots at Christianity, famously shutting down an up-and-coming comedian for taking cheap digs at religion: “I think if you’re gonna take on an entire religion you should maybe know what you’re talking about.”
Macdonald passed away in 2021 at 61, leaving behind a comedy legacy that even the most cynical critics couldn’t ignore. At the time, Apatow called him “the funniest person on television” and “a massive loss.” The two overlapped in Hollywood more than once, with Macdonald making cameos in Apatow projects like The Larry Sanders Show and Funny People.
There’s no word yet on when the documentary will drop, but given Apatow’s track record and Macdonald’s singular influence on comedy, it’s bound to be an essential watch.
