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The creative method in which Ryan Reynolds persuaded Bill Murray to star in the long-awaited John Candy documentary is now one of the most discussed entertainment stories of the season. Canadian megastar had to face Hollywood fave Bill Murray and his widely known evasiveness.
Rather than typical Hollywood tricks, Reynolds turned to a personal, family appeal, employing the charisma of his young son to influence Murray and finally attaining the spontaneous involvement that lends emotional weight to John Candy: I Like Me.
As time ran out and a deadline neared, Reynolds sent a final video message, which accidentally became a father-son plea: His two-year-old son, Olin, implored Murray directly:
“Do the interview, Bill!”
To Reynolds, the wording was straightforward:
“Would you say no to a child like that?”
Murray simply could not, and his involvement is among the numerous star appearances in a documentary already filled with industry giants celebrating the memory of the late John Candy.
How Ryan Reynolds persuaded Bill Murray for John Candy: I Like Me?
The legend of how Bill Murray came to be a part of John Candy: I Like Me is bound to become lore in the entertainment industry. Ryan Reynolds, the producer of the documentary, was in a dilemma because Murray is known for his evasiveness.
Famously inaccessible except by old-fashioned technology or by circuitous word-of-mouth connections, Murray had not responded to demands to provide an interview, even though he shared a history with Candy in movies such as Stripes (1981).
During a premiere panel at TIFF, Reynolds acknowledged that he had done some “terrible” things in his efforts, including making repeated voicemails (one reached the answering machine of a Greek shipping company) to being quizzed and rudely ghosted by the Groundhog Day actor. Talking to CNN, Reynolds stated:
“I’m like ‘Bill, I’m running out of time, of course, existentially because death will find me some day, but I’m also running out of time on this doc’. And I was lying. I wasn’t running out of time. I’d run out of time two weeks ago.”
Admitting his crawling desperation, Reynolds concluded that a video message was his final glimpse of hope. Then, towards the middle of the night, his two-year-old Olin crept in (not asleep as he ought to have been). Reynolds, seeing his opportunity, had him record a genuine plea:
“I said…’I’m trying to send a video to Bill, tell Bill to do the interview,’. And he went ‘Do the interview Bill!’ all angry like. And I said, ‘Would you say no to a child like that, then I don’t know what kind of monster you are.’ Next thing I know he was doing it.”
His involvement is not celebrity window-dressing: Murray opens the trailer of the documentary, literally in tears, declaring:
“I can't tell you what was right about John Candy, or what was wrong. But he was my friend… And ... I don't wanna cry, but when you see him, when you see his face....”
About John Candy: I Like Me
John Candy: I Like Me is a giant, heartfelt group hug for the guy who made Canada (and the rest of us) laugh until we snorted. Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks’ son, takes the wheel here and is produced by Ryan Reynolds through his Maximum Effort banner. They have dug up behind-the-scenes footage, goofy home videos, exclusive interviews, plus all those treasures from the Candy family’s attic.
The documentary dropped to rave reviews on September 4, 2025, kicking off the Toronto International Film Festival. And if you missed it there, it’s premiering on Prime Video worldwide on October 10, 2025.
Along with Murray, the movie is full of Candy’s old partners and friends: Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Catherine O, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Mel Brooks, and others, all witnesses to John Candy, his generosity, vulnerable nature, and comic genius.
Beyond a typical biography, the film examines how John Candy rose to prominence as a celebrity on Second City Television, the iconic performances in Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and Cool Runnings, and the personal struggles he faced with fame, health, and Hollywood demands. It is, according to its participants, sincere, emotional, and jubilant; a movie as cheerful and heart-wrenching as the finest work of Candy.
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Also Read: Who was John Candy’s wife? Late actor’s life with Rosemary Candy explored amid documentary release
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