Will Ferrell is Pissed That "Anchorman" Sequel Has Been Scrapped

[JamesG]

Will Ferrell Is Pissed That Paramount Nixed Anchorman 2
By Gabrielle Dunn
Posted May 2nd 2011


Looks like the legend of Ron Burgundy is over.

Fans of Anchorman, Will Ferrell's 2004 comedy about a goofy, egotistical '70s news anchor in San Diego, must remain in a glass case of emotion: Paramount Pictures has nixed the idea for a sequel.

The original Anchorman was a comedic tour-de-force with Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Christina Applegate and cameos from Luke Wilson, Tim Robbins and Ben Stiller, among others.







At a screening for Ferrell's new indie comedy Everything Must Go, he told reporters he and creative partner Adam McKay are both ready to go on a sequel, but that Paramount owns the rights and doesn't believe Anchorman 2 would be a success.

"'Anchorman 2,' you'd have to really assert some kind of email hate campaign to Paramount Pictures because they've told us, quote-unquote, 'We've run the numbers and it's not a good fit,'" Ferrell told an audience of journalists (via CinemaBlend).







The red light from Paramount means that an old-school approach that Will Ferrell and Adam McKay had planned for the sequel will not be happening.

"We were going to do almost a reverse ... almost like how the Marx brothers used to do. We were going to do a Broadway musical and then have a film come out after the stage show," Ferrell said, confirming earlier rumors.

"Everyone we tell the idea loves it, except for the studio that owns the rights. Ball's in their courts, but they're being idiots."

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/05/02...t-anchorman-2/

[JamesG]

Will Ferrell Talks Anchorman Sequel: 'There's So Much Interest'
By PopEater Editors
Posted May 13th 2011


Everything Must Go, opening in limited release today, tells the story of Nick Halsey, a man struggling with a drinking problem who, in the same day, gets fired and comes home to discover his wife has left and dumped all his possessions into the front yard.

It's a small, heartfelt movie and the actor who plays Nick? Will Ferrell. That's right, the same goofy man-boy comedian who's made us howl with laughter in Step Brothers, Elf, and Talladega Nights.




It's a wonderfully understated and deeply moving performance. Ferrell is one of the nicest celebs PopEater has spoken to, and he more than opened up about his attempt make sense of Paramount's reluctance to greenlight an Anchorman sequel.






Have you and your writing partner Adam McKay managed to shame Paramount into greenlighting Anchorman 2?

No! Despite all my comments to the media which after I saw ... it's one of the those things where you say something and go, "Oh I don't remember saying that," oh I guess I did.

No, it has had no effect. (Laughs).





That's so weird. The movie made so much money.

Yeah, I don't understand how they conduct their business. It's funny I think they... actually I don't know what they think. Once again they don't comment either way, but it's not like it's coming from us unsolicited.

We just keep getting asked so many times about it that we have to comment. We try to explain there's so much interest in a sequel, we're not making this up! So I don't know.





Have you ever bumped into the head of Paramount at a Lakers game?

No, but I relish that day. (Laughs)





Would it be super uncomfortable if you sat next to him?

It would be terribly uncomfortable for him.

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/05/13...thing-must-go/

[Delpus]

I would watch Anchorman 2 but I agree that I don't think it would make a lot of money. Then again if Will Ferral wants to do it, why doesnt he just go ahead and do it? I mean he probly has enough money to pay for it all himeself..

[dlemond]

It really makes no sense considering the overseas sales and DVD/Blu ray releases will assuredly make- at the very least- their money back.