Will Ferrell stars in The Hawk, a Netflix golf comedy series launching July 16, 2026. It marks Ferrell’s first lead role in a television series. The show has 10 episodes and partners with the PGA TOUR, a sign Netflix is betting on golf’s cultural moment.
Ferrell plays Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, a fallen legend chasing one final major tournament. Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, and Chris Parnell round out the cast. The series is created by Ferrell, Harper Steele, and Chris Henchy, with directors including David Gordon Green.
Why Golf, Why Now
Golf on television has been resurgent since LIV Golf launched in 2022 and the PGA Tour consolidated. Younger viewers are watching. Netflix has invested in sports content. Sports comedies work when the sport has momentum. Golf has it.
The Hawk isn’t a documentary. It’s not a training montage. It’s a story about a man on his last swing at greatness, dragging everyone he loves into the chaos. That’s a universal theme dressed in golf clothes.
The Cast and Crew
Ferrell has done sports comedies before. Talladega Nights, The Other Guys, Land of the Lost. He’s comfortable in this space. Molly Shannon brings gravitas and comedy in equal measure. The supporting cast is solid comedy television talent.
David Gordon Green directed. He’s made films and TV. He brings a cinematic sensibility to what could have been a flat sitcom.
Expectations
Netflix has been selective with comedy. The Hawk has a big budget, major talent, and a built-in audience (golf fans, Ferrell fans, comedy fans). It could be a hit. It could also be forgotten in a month. Golf comedy is a narrow lane.
The Hawk launches July 16. Golf fans and comedy fans will know by July 25 whether it sticks.
