All Hail: Will Ferrell Dons Crown in Mardi Gras Parade

Funnyman reigns as King Bacchus in annual Mardi Gras parade

By Sierra Marquina Feb 20, 2012 6:15 PMTags
Will Ferrell Skip Bolen/Getty Images

All hail Will Ferrell, er, King Bacchus!

The funnyman donned a red gown and crown in his role as King Bacchus, Roman God of Wine, in New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras parade.

The 44-year-old comedian has been in New Orleans since November working on political comedy flick The Campaign in which he plays boneheaded politician Cam Brady, who fights with a fellow idiot (played by Zach Galifianakis) for a seat in Congress.

Fellow idiot Galifianakis was also along for the ride in the parade, following closely behind Will's float, yet decided to go a slightly subtler way than his costar and donned a mask.

Ferrell told the Times-Picayune newspaper before taking on the Mardi Gras role: "I don't know what to expect. I do have to say, everybody is coming up to me and...they have the same speech pattern. They go 'Have you been here before for Mardi Gras?' And I say 'No.' Then they pause. 'Oh. You're going to have a good time.'"

He adds, "It's slightly ominous, almost like it's going to be fraternity hazing or something. But I don't know what to expect. I'm not going to try to predict [what happens], and I think it's going to be crazy and fun."

Will's reign as Bacchus follows in the footsteps of previous kings Nicolas CageWilliam ShatnerElijah WoodBob HopeHulk Hogan and Drew Brees.