Zac Efron and Russel Crowe to costar in The Greatest Beer Run Ever

Zac Efron in The Beach Bum.
(Image credit: SPK Pictures)

Apple Studios is looking to expand its ever-growing catalogue with plans to finance The Greatest Beer Run Ever. The film, helmed by director Peter Farrelly of Green Book fame, will star Zac Efron and Russell Crowe in the film's leading roles. 

Farrelly co-wrote the script as well, teaming up with Brian Currie and Pete Jones to adapt the screenplay off of Chick Donahue and J.T. Malloy's novel The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty and War. The Apple Original Films title will be produced by Andrew Muscato, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, with the latter three hailing from Skydance production company. Farrelly made note that he's been looking forward to making this film since taking home Oscar gold for Green Book.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever tells the tale of Donahue (the novelist) attempting to bring beer to his friends while they fought in Vietnam in 1967. The man left New York, hitched a ride on a Merchant Marine ship, and carried the beer through the jungle as he tried to track down his buddies. He did all of this in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. Turns out his choice of attire would work in his favor. Moving through the jungle is apparently easier when you're mistaken for a CIA agent.

Efron will take on the titular role of Donahue, and the team behind the film hopes to start production in August of 2021 (likely in Australia or New Zealand). Crowe's role is currently unknown. 

For more exciting new projects, check out these upcoming movies of 2021 and beyond.

Streaming Editor at IGN

Amelia is now the Streaming Editor for IGN, but formerly worked for What To Watch, and GamesRadar. She writes about all things TV and movies. 

Read more
Seth Rogen in The Studio
New Apple TV show with 97% on Rotten Tomatoes teases all its cameos, including Martin Scorsese and Zac Efron
Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott threatened to walk away from his upcoming movie after being asked to go too far: "I'm expensive, but I'm f*cking good"
The Bear
As Daniel Craig drops out of DC's Sgt. Rock movie, The Bear's Jeremy Allen White is reportedly stepping in – and fans think it's an upgrade
Chris Pratt in The Electric State
6 years after Avengers: Endgame, Chris Pratt talks reuniting with the Russo brothers for new Netflix movie The Electric State: "I have much more responsibilities in this film than I had in the Avengers movies"
Colin Farrell wins Golden Globe for The Penguin
Penguin actor Colin Farrell could be going from villain to hero as the star of DC's Sgt. Rock movie
best Tom Cruise movie moments
The team behind Top Gun: Maverick are reuniting for a new UFO conspiracy thriller
Latest in Comedy Movies
John Cena in Barbie
John Cena comedy Coyote Vs. Acme might come out after all, over a year after it was controversially shelved
Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2
29 years later, Happy Gilmore 2 trailer sees Adam Sandler return to the course with familiar faces – and confirms release date
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill, and Michael Cera in Superbad
Seth Rogen says Sony wouldn't let Jonah Hill use a PlayStation in Superbad as his character was too "reprehensible": "They're like, 'We can't have him interact with our products'"
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in Freakier Friday
Freaky Friday 2 trailer promises more body-swap hilarity from Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in long-awaited sequel
Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice 2 star Jenna Ortega would love to star in another classic horror comedy franchise: Gremlins
This is Spinal Tap
First Spinal Tap 2 teaser reveals release date for comedy sequel that’s over 40 years in the making
Latest in News
Mario & Luigi: Brothership trailer still
"They are really feelin' the pressure": Former Nintendo staff think today's Direct, just 6 days before the Switch 2 Direct is a "bad idea strategically"
channing tatum gambit in deadpool and wolverine
Marvel fans are hoping Channing Tatum's Gambit return in Avengers: Doomsday will be different from Deadpool and Wolverine
Final Fantasy 16 protagonist Clive uses magic in closeup screenshot
Despite fans begging for Tifa, Final Fantasy 16's Clive is "significantly more popular" than any other Tekken guest fighter
Spider-Man 4
There might be an obvious reason why Tom Holland's Spider-Man wasn't announced for Avengers: Doomsday
Patrick Stewart in X-Men
Marvel fans are already theorizing how Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and James Marsden's X-Men will be integrated into Avengers: Doomsday
Daredevil: Born Again episode 6
Daredevil's Charlie Cox isn't in the Avengers: Doomsday cast list – but Marvel fans have an idea about how he might still show up