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'Downhill' stars Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus share their favourite roles of each other's

New comedy drama Downhill — a remake of the 2014 Swedish hit Force Majeure about an American family whose European ski trip hits a snag after a severe act of cowardice — unites two of the funniest people in the business in Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

"We ran them through an intense audition process," co-director Jim Rash facetiously told Yahoo Entertainment about bringing the Saturday Night Live alums together for the first time while joined by his writing and directing partner, Nat Faxon (watch above).

You would imagine that Ferrell, who has appeared in countless box-office hits like Old School, Anchorman and Step Brothers over the past two decades, and Louis-Dreyfus, who has starred in two of the most seminal television comedies of our time, are fans one of another. They just have a really tough time picking favourites.

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Ferrell, for one, laboured over the choice between Seinfeld and Veep. "Seinfeld, one of the greatest television shows of all time," he said. "But Veep — a powerful female comedic character. Come on." (We're going to give that one to Veep, which netted Louis-Dreyfus an astounding six consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress, Comedy from 2012 to 2017.)

Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a still from <i>Downhill</i>. (Twentieth Century Studios)
Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a still from Downhill. (Twentieth Century Studios)

We didn't give Louis-Dreyfus any options to choose from when it came to picking a Ferrell role, but sounds like she didn't need them.

"No," the actress cracked when asked if she has a favourite Will Ferrell performance.

"And I'm so OK with it," Ferrell shot back. "Because when we first sat down to meet, she's like, 'I just want you to know, I do not have a favourite of yours.'"

"Actually, if I may," Louis-Dreyfus interjected, "That's not quite the way it went. I said, 'Just so you know, I'm not a fan of the work that you do.' That's what I said."

And this is why you don't need to audition these two together.

Downhill is in UK cinemas from 28 February. Watch the trailer: