Will Ferrell: Studio 'Idiots' Nixed 'Anchorman 2'

By Moviefone Editors Posted May 3rd 2011 09:05AM

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."

Ferrell has recently taken some time off big-budget ventures. He's been guest-starring on TV's 'The Office' and stars in a Spanish-language indie film, 'Casa de Mi Padre,' opposite Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal.

The Internet should get a petition going. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.

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Tags: will ferrell

Comments

(21)

Tuesday 03 May

By Mike

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Oh, Will. It's hard enough trying to capture lightning in a bottle once. If anything, this appears to be a case of studio "idiots" actually showing some restraint for a change.

Besides, your version of "The Producers" stage show was unwatchable.

Wednesday 04 May

By stu

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But ur a has been Willy!

By rickowens1950

Will got the part about the idiots right, just not the right time of them being idiots. They should have axed Anchorman 1. As Charlie Sheene would say "WINNER"!

By Biscotti

I don't know which is more sad, that you quoted Charlie Sheen or that you spelled his name wrong.

By gp

Well said biscotti!

By Mr. G

Well said! Will is at best a second rate actor that should thank his lucky stars any producer gave him a chance in the first place. If you are 12 years old and have the IQ of a turnip you might enjoy his movies!

By Madeline

No "Anchorman 2"? Thank God! The first one was one of the worst movies that I`ve ever seen.So totally unfunny, it was pathetic.

By joan

Sorry Will, but you are not as funny as you think you are.
Anchorman was terrible so why do another one? In fact Will I think you may be a little egotistical of late and think you are better than you are. Too bad. Elf was so good...try to be more like him than Ron Burgandy.

By themeeker

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

He's only p.o.'d because he didn't get another zillion dollar payday for no real effort.

Anchorman wasn't THAT good. Get over it Will. We've seen you in your u-trou enough for one life, and that's the only trick you have.

By crelic

Sorry, Will...Anchorman was not some of your better work.

By slinggren

His movies are so bad anyway,thank you for somebody had the nerve to tell him the truth.Todays movies are so bad,about time.Quit telling lies to these actors,your so great,could not do a fifth grade stage play.

By Carrell

The studio called it right, WIll farrell is the idiot. what a loser, over rated, save your money, join the jerry lewis and jim carrey club, your 10 minutes are way way over.

By Tapper

"Sixty percent of the time, it works every time." Was Yogi Berra your math teacher?

By BB

"Sixty percent of the time, it works every time" is a line from the movie.

I for one would love to see Anchorman 2. If you go into a movie expecting a goofy movie rather than some cinema masterpiece, the movies are great. Will hasn't hit on all of his movies, but what actor has?

By William

A few marketable movies, overexposure and then relative obscurity, it seems to be the career path of so many SNL alumni. Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd, Eddie Murphy, Rob Schnieder (who was never funny), Dana Carvey, etc., etc. Sorry Will, you're a one joke guy. Jokes over time to adapt or show some variety. You're clearly a talented and likeable guy, show us something beyond the Will Ferrell you always portray.

William, I agree with everything you say. The only difference is that the other men you listed never seemed to think that they were better than they actually were. Ferrell has just fallen too much in love with himself and shows it. The others did not.

I have to disagree with you joan. Rob Schneider does think he's better than he really is which prompted Roger Ebert to write a review so bad that it ended with "Mr. Schneider, your movie sucks".

Schneider didn't think it sucked. He was wrong.

You are correct, except that Ferrell is the only one of this list who has gotten too swelll headed and is too much into himself.

I rank him right down there with Sandler and Schneider. They should all be banned from movies.

By Sekinu2

So paramount red lights a creative movie that used writers and would be a follow up to a prior movie that made very good money but they will green light bad remakes and rality crap that use no writers no wonder they are a failing studio.This movie already had huge fan base and hype for the sequel. Guess maybe an A team sequel of crap again or maybe another remake of "insert bad 80s tv show here" for paramount

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