Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a 2020 American romantic musical fantasy comedy film directed by David Dobkin, written by Will Ferrell and Harper Steele (credited as Andrew Steele; Steele came out as transgender and changed her name in 2022), and starring Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Melissanthi Mahut, Mikael Persbrandt, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Graham Norton, Demi Lovato, and Pierce Brosnan. The film follows the personally close Icelandic singers Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdóttir as they are given the chance to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Story of Fire Saga was initially scheduled for a May 2020 release to coincide with the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 contest was cancelled, and the film was subsequently released a month later on June 26 on Netflix.
The Story of Fire Saga received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the original music but criticised the two-hour runtime, but had a positive reception from many Eurovision fans. The film received a nomination for Best Original Song at the 93rd Academy Awards (for "Husavik").
Cast and characters[]
- Will Ferrell - Lars Erickssong
- Alfie Melia - young Lars Erickssong
- Rachel McAdams - Sigrit Ericksdóttir
- Sophia-Grace Donnelly - young Sigrit Ericksdóttir
- Molly Sandén - Sigrit's singing voice (credited as My Marianne)
- Dan Stevens - Alexander Lemtov
- Erik Mjönes - Alexander's singing voice
- Melissanthi Mahut - Mita Xenakis
- Petra Nielsen - Mita's singing voice
- Mikael Persbrandt - Victor Karlosson
- Ólafur Darri Ólafsson - Neils Brongus
- Graham Norton - himself
- Demi Lovato - Katiana Lindsdóttir
- Pierce Brosnan - Erick Ericksson
- Joi Johansson - Jorn
- Alfrun Rose - Anna
- Björn Hlynur Haraldsson - Arnar
- Jamie Demetriou - Kevin Swain
- Jon Kortajarena - Corin Vladvitch
- Elina Alminas - Sasha More
- Elín Petersdóttir - Helka
- Christopher Jeffers - Johnny John John
- Rebecca Harrod - Brittny
- Josh Zaré - Bill
- Bobby Lockwood - Jeff
- Eleanor WIlliams - Jenn
- Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson - Johans
- Natasia Demetriou - Nina
- Hannes Óli Ágústsson - Olaf Yohansson
- William Lee Adams - himself
- Zack Propert - Stephan
Special appearances[]
John Lundvik (Swedish representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019)
Anna Odobescu (Moldovan representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019)
Bilal Hassani (French representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019)
Loreen (winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2012) (also winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2023, held three years after the film's release)- Jessy Matador (French representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010)
- Alexander Rybak (winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and Norwegian representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018)
- Jamala (winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2016)
- Elina Nechayeva (Estonian representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018)
- Conchita Wurst (winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2014)
- Netta (winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2018)
- Salvador Sobral (winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2017; portrayed a piano-playing busker in Scotland)
International release[]
| Country | Network(s) | Date(s) | Local title |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga |
| Worldwide | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | |
| Australia | SBS | May 14, 2021 | |
| SBS World Movies | May 29, 2021 | ||
| Belgium | Eén | May 15, 2021 | |
| Denmark | DR1 | May 21, 2021 May 23, 2021 | |
| Estonia | ETV+ | May 21, 2021 | |
| Ireland | RTÉ One | May 19, 2021 | |
| Latvia | LTV1 | May 14, 2021 | |
| Malta | TVM | May 15, 2021 | |
| Norway | NRK1 | May 17, 2021 | |
| NRK3 | May 21, 2021 | ||
| San Marino | San Marino RTV | May 16, 2021 | |
| Sweden | SVT2 | May 15, 2021 | |
| Switzerland | SRF zwei | May 19, 2021 | |
| Latin America | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Festival de la canción de Eurovisión: la historia de Fire Saga |
| Spain | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | |
| La 1 | May 22, 2021 | ||
| Arab World | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | مسابقة يوروفيجن للأغنية: قصة فاير ساجا |
| Armenia | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Եվրատեսիլ |
| Brazil | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Festival Eurovision da Canção: A Saga de Sigrit e Lars |
| Bulgaria | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Евровизия: Историята на Файър Сага |
| Canada (French) | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Concours Eurovision de la chanson: L'Histoire de Fire Saga |
| Croatia | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurosong: Priča o grupi Fire Saga |
| HRT 2 | May 19, 2021 | ||
| Czech Republic | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurovize |
| Greece | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Διαγωνισμός Τραγουδιού Eurovision: Η Ιστορία των Fire Saga |
| Open TV | July 15, 2022 | ||
| Hungary | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurovíziós Dalfesztivál: A Fire Saga története |
| Israel | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | תחרות הזמר של האירוויזיון: סיפורה של Fire Saga |
| Italy | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurovision Song Contest - La storia dei Fire Saga |
| Japan | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | ユーロビジョン歌合戦 〜ファイア・サーガ物語〜 |
| Lithuania | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurovizijos dainų konkursas: ugnies sagos istorija |
| LRT televizija | May 22, 2021 | ||
| Poland | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurovision Song Contest: Historia zespołu Fire Saga |
| Portugal | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Festival Eurovisão da Canção: A História dos Fire Saga |
| RTP1 | May 22, 2021 | ||
| Russia | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Евровидение: История огненной саги |
| Serbia | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Песма Евровизије: Прича ватрене саге |
| South Korea | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | 유로비전 송 콘테스트: 파이어 사가 스토리 |
| Taiwan | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | 歐洲歌唱大賽：火焰傳說 |
| Turkey | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Eurovision Şarkı Yarışması: Fire Saga'nın Hikâyesi |
| Ukraine | Netflix | June 26, 2020 | Пісенний конкурс Євробачення: Історія вогненної саги |