Image Credit: Frank MasiCould Ron Burgundy live to anchor another nightly newscast after all? Last Thursday, Anchorman director/co-writer Adam McKay suggested via Twitter that the long-gestating sequel was a no-go: “So bummed. Paramount basically passed on Anchorman 2. Even after we cut our budget down. We tried.”
Talking to EW today, McKay’s star and co-writer Will Ferrell struck a similarly bemused tone. But wait! Ferrell wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Anchorman 2 might get made after all. Read on for our Q&A.
Meanwhile, sources close to Paramount confirm to EW that negotiations are ongoing, and say it all comes down to money. They say the studio won’t make another Anchorman for more than $50 million, due to concerns about the first one’s overseas gross, and that McKay and Ferrell have asked for closer to $70 million. Ferrell’s camp, however, tells EW that those numbers are not accurate. —Additional reporting by Nicole Sperling
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Anchorman has been back in the headlines with Paramount passing on the sequel. What happened with that? How do you feel about that?
WILL FERRELL: Well, you know, yeah, it’s a little peculiar. On the one hand, [we were] being begged to do a sequel for such a long time, and then we finally came up with a concept that we liked, we talked to all the guys, and everyone was up for it. And then to get the reaction we got, yeah, it’s slightly puzzling to us. But you know what? It’s also their money. They get to do or not do whatever they want. So we’ll see. We’re still going back and forth. Maybe there is a solution. Or, I know in talking to Adam, if it never happens, then it never happens. And that’s fine, too. So we’ll just see.
Were you at the actual meeting where they turned it down?
No, I was there when we said we were up for doing this. That was met with a lot of, like, “Oh wow, oh my God, amazing, great!” The other stuff came later.
It sounds like you wouldn’t rule out that it might come back around.
We’re in such a weird kind of time right now in terms of the studios and where they want to put their money or not. Yeah. You never know. They may circle back. It’s always a negotiation, even if it’s a “No.” You just never know. Six months from now, they could have some movies fall apart and their slate is a little light, and, like, “Hey, let’s revisit that.” So we’ll just kind of keep moving on, see what happens.
I just want to know who Will Ferrels boy friend is and if he is still taking classes on how to be funny
Hi, I’m Susan! I’m super sour and disparage differing senses of humor! Also, I like using “boyfriend” as an insult because I find homosexuality inherently sickening. Yay for me!
I am a turdy
Thanks for the attention, everybody!
Why don’t you go back to your home on Whore Island
We heterosexuals don’t need proper spelling or grammar.
wow susan, what a SUPER lame comment.
Hey susan-
Look at that perfect rainbow! Do me on it!
You know what else people thought was dead that came back? Baxter.
HA! Exactly!
His apartment smells of rich mahogany.
haha boy your a funny guy
Hollywod negotiations: 60% of the time, it works every time.
It stings the nostrils….lol
That is pungent.
Paramount Studios, which of course in German means… a whale’s vagina.
I laugh at anyone who tries to read these message boards who hasn’t seen the movie. It has to be the weirdest read. Also, I’m kind of a big deal.
I watched the movie once, but apparently not with the level of detail needed to keep up with the board. I obviously, need to watch again.
Paramount is cheap . . . they couldn’t afford to promote Shutter Island last fall, which grossed a healthy $125 mil when it finally got released this spring.
He should put some Sex Panther on before he goes into the meeting. If they still say no, then they can just eat cat poop.
They are passing Anchorman 2 not because of the foreign gross of the first Anchorman but the combined grosses of his last three films. SEMI PRO, STEP BROTHERS and LAND OF THE LOST anyone? Anyone???
Semi-Pro was a big hit and actually outgrossed Anchorman. Why don’t you go back to your home on whore island.
Seriously, you’re putting Step Brothers in the same league as the other two? If so, I doubt whatever opinion you have on the matter.
Paramount’s concerns over Anchorman’s overseas box office is a smokescreen. American comedies RARELY do well overseas. Just like French comedies RARELY do well over here. Every culture has a different sense of what is funny. Plus, I doubt some dude in Thailand is going to grasp what is ironic about a 1970′s local market anchorman.
….step brothers was magnificent. you clearly don’t understand what a good opinion is.
PANDA WATCH
It makes sense that it is a money thing. I mean today both Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are pretty big stars (not to mention so is Rogan) so to get either Brian Fantana or Brick Tamland to show up is going to cost some cash.
Good point, and congrats on posting the only intelligent comment on this whole thread.
Actually, McKay said that both Carell and Rudd really lowered their normal rates to be in and help out the movie. But I’m sure it’s not as low as their checks for Anchorman.
Will ferrell is the funiest man alive, and I was so looking forward to this movie
Milk was a bad choice
I enjoyed the first Anchorman, but $70 mill? Even $50 mill seems like a crazy amount of money for a comedy. No wonder the studio doesn’t want to invest.
Anchorman is my favorite movie of all time. Hell,me and my friends still recite lines from it every day.I mean cmon,”great oden’s raven!” , “what’s that Baxter?You pooped in the refrigerator?Wow…Im not even mad,im actually impressed” and “sex panther:60% of the time,it works every time” are some of the best lines out there for comedies!Oh,let’s not forget: “Brick,where’d you get that hand grenade?”"I dont know”