Ernest P. Worrell Goes to Comics For His First Adventure Since 1998

As a devoted fan of Ernest P. Worrell since his humble beginnings as a regional pitchman, I am beyond thrilled to see the return of this iconic character! The fact that Corey Perkins, M Arief Russanto, and Mariam Yasser are bringing Ernest back to life in a new, spooky comedy story is nothing short of a dream come true.

Starting next month, I’ll be joining forces with illustrator M Arief Russanto and colorist Mariam Yasser to revive the iconic character, Ernest P. Worrell, in a chilling comedy tale titled “Ernest & the Dream Stone“. This project is currently being crowdfunded. You can check out a sneak peek of the trailer below!

On our project’s Facebook page, Perkins shared: “If you’re a fan of Ernest, take comfort in knowing we’ve been meticulously working on the script for the past couple of years to make the story as robust, authentic, and true-to-Ernest as possible. In fact, the dialogue is written so vividly that it sounds like Ernest himself is speaking the words!”

Initially designed as a local spokesperson with an unexpected twist, Ernest wasn’t tied to one specific company. Instead, the character, portrayed by Varney and conceptualized by both Varney and ad executive John Cherry, gained immense popularity through his ads in Nashville. Hats Off Entertainment referred to this phenomenon as “the first viral star.” This widespread fame led Ernest to become a genuine movie star and cultural sensation. After filming numerous commercials as Ernest, Varney later starred in a series of short films, followed by an astounding nine full-length feature films.

Initially appearing in a Saturday-morning comedy series titled “Hey Vern, It’s Ernest!”, Varney garnered a Daytime Emmy Award. This was his first non-commercial venture and marked the beginning of the film franchise, with the first movie, “Ernest Goes to Camp,” released in 1987. This film featured Varney alongside an ensemble cast that included future star Richard Speight Jr., as well as character actors like Iron Eyes Cody and John Vernon. The film, produced on a budget of $3.5 million, grossed an impressive $23.5 million domestically and became a mainstay in the video rental market, generating profits for years to come.

The first movie and the subsequent four were screened in cinemas. Despite a decline in box office popularity by 1993, Ernest continued to resonate with viewers at video rental stores nationwide. Although the films seldom received positive reviews from critics, they were adored by audiences, particularly children. This, coupled with their low production costs, made Ernest one of the most secure film franchises in Hollywood.

The fundraising campaign for “Ernest & the Dream Stone” will last from September 17th to October 17th. This means you’ll get updates right before the creepy, Halloween-ish atmosphere sets in! You can register for notifications here.

2024-08-26 21:40

Ernest P. Worrell Goes to Comics For His First Adventure Since 1998

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