[Nick Koan]

I think this will be awful, but for some reason I think I'll have to see it.

A quartet of great character actors has signed on for Will Ferrell's untitled NASCAR comedy for Columbia Pictures. Variety reports Sacha Baron Cohen (aka Ali G), John C. Reilly, Michael Clarke Duncan and Gary Cole are all ready to ham it up opposite Ferrell. The movie features Ferrell as Ricky Bobby, a world-class driver and fan favorite. Cohen plays Jean Girard, a gay French Formula One driver who comes to the U.S. to conquer NASCAR and destroy Ferrell. Reilly plays Ricky's childhood friend, and together the two form "Thunder & Lightning," the most feared racing duo in NASCAR. Cole will play Reese Bobby, Ricky's estranged father who comes back into his life. Duncan will play Lucius Washington, Bobby's crew chief. Long-time Ferrell writing collaborator Adam McKay ("Anchorman") will direct. After "Herbie: Fully Loaded," it'd be hard to convince me NASCAR could work in the movies, but two comic geniuses like Ferrell and Cohen duking it out for laughs? Put it on your must-see list for next summer.