Even when delivering his first, real dramatic movie in the shape of The Big Short, writer-director Adam McKay cannot escape the lengthy shadow of Ron Burgundy.
While discussing his latest film, McKay was asked by the press, once again, about the possibility of Anchorman 3 and, crucially, what that film might look like. Though he has, in the past, ruled out any prospect of returning to Will Ferrell’s comedy icon, McKay’s stance now appears to be softening, somewhat.
“We talked about doing one that was about the rise of the new media. I also thought there was something to the idea – and who knows, maybe we will do one some day – I also thought it’d be cool to have Ron Burgundy get embedded in the Iraq War. We kicked around that idea. But we’ve never got serious about it, but it would have to be the next stage of what the media has become. And I think you’re right – I think it’s the internet. The only thing is, by then Burgundy would be getting pretty old. So maybe, it’s a movie we make in 10 years, when Will’s aged up, and it actually makes sense that you can set it in 1999 or 98.”
Ron Burgundy in a war zone? Yes, please. Ron Burgundy and the advent of the digital age? Even better. These are movie premises ripe for exploration, and making the films into a trilogy around 2020, or 2025 would see this franchise as the perfect way of marking time – like a far more raucous Richard Linklater project.
The question is, where would we find the rest of the news team by 1998? Brian (Paul Rudd), Brick (Steve Carell), Champ (David Koechner) and, of course, Veronica (Christina Applegate) – they would all undoubtedly have fascinating stories to catch up with, if the news team were to assemble for Anchorman 3.
Published: Dec 1, 2015 09:36 am