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Can Jason Segel Score An Oscars Nom For The End Of The Tour?

Neil Griffiths

Comedian gives dramatic turn in new flick.

You'll probably know him best from the hugely successful US sitcom How I Met Your Mother as Marshall Eriksen or you would have seen him in a bunch of comedy films, such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man and The Five Year Engagement. 

And that is clearly Jason Segel's strength — comedy. 

Aside from dabbling in drama with the 2011 indie hit, Jeff, Who Lives At Home, the 35-year-old actor has rarely strayed away from his comedic roots. 

That is, until the upcoming biographical film The End Of The Tour in which he plays David Foster Wallace, based on the late US author. 

It premiered at this year's Sundance Festival to rave reviews, with critics specifically targeting Segel's performance as the highlight, and some are already pencilling him in for an Oscars nomination next year — After watching the trailer, it's not hard to see why. 

Segel completely transforms himself in the role as he portrays the influential writer with a certain sadness that can only be described as gripping. 

The film centres on Wallace as he is joined by a magazine reporter (played by the always strong, Jesse Eisenberg) while on a book promotion tour. 

Eisenberg himself is an Academy Award nominated actor for his turn as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in 2010's critically acclaimed The Social Network and for Segel to shine so brightly next to him is a testament to his performance in this film.

Many other major comedic actors have tried their hand in drama films and succeeded; Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, who was nominated at this year's Oscars for Foxcatcher. 

And who could forget the late, great Robin Williams who in fact won the Best Supporting actor gong in 1997 classic, Good Will Hunting. 

Could Segel join the list of these iconic actors with his performance? It may be a little too early to tell at this stage, but it would be naive to think he won't at least be in the mix.

The End Of The Tour is scheduled for a July release in US cinemas and though no Australian dates have been announced as yet, it will screen at the Melbourne Film Festival this July, so release dates are expected to follow.