It's been a while since fans last heard about Adam McKay's "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" project. Making sure that the comedy film is still happening, the director shares some updates on the sequel to 2004's "Anchorman". He reveals that the forthcoming Will Ferrell-starring flick will be more of a musical pic that features songs from the scrapped "Anchorman" Broadway show. "There will be some music in 'Anchorman 2' though for sure, we have some songs already written," McKay tells The Playlist before explaining what took him so long to make the sequel. "We were going to do 'Anchorman 2' as a Broadway musical first, for like six months and then go shoot the movie. That was our initial idea," he opens up.
Elaborating further about the plan to bring musical element to "Anchorman 2", McKay says that he will likely require his actors to perform the songs live a la "Les Miserables". He says, "Whole song sequences, absolutely. The music sequences we have done - we did 'Afternoon Delight' [in 'Anchorman'], Adam Scott and his family singing 'Sweet Child O' Mine' [in 'Step Brothers'], we did a whole song for 'Talladega Nights' that got cut out, a big, big musical number - we always do it live on the set."
"And my thing is, if the actors get freaked out, don't sweat it, we can always re-record it later," he notes. "And every time we've done it, we end up using the live track from the recording. We'll probably do it the same way in this." He goes on hinting that there might also be some dance scenes in the film, "This one might have a little more movement in it, and the only problem with that is the actors get winded."
Of the film's plot details, McKay says, "Even though it's going to be a big silly movie, it's all about the rise of the new media and 24 hour news cycle, and there's a lot of interesting points to make about that while being silly." He continues that Ferrell's Ron Burgundy might have some "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"-esque moment in the sequel.
"It's been discussed, there's a little wisp of [talk]. We'd never do it straight ahead, we gotta f*** with it in some way. Because Ron Burgundy isn't quite Jimmy Stewart in character, so if he does, he's not going to do it well," he explains. "But there's a little bit of that going on. I mean what is this 24 hours news, and this wall of white noise information, has it really been good for our country? The great thing when you find a point of view like that is that it doesn't have to be preachy or didactic, it's also funny."
"It's just funny that Americans have to contend with 2000 channels, and 60 different specific news sources, and the confusion that it creates, and the junk that we get to see is hilarious. That's what we're always kinda looking for, what's the point of view that's got life to it and plays."
Keeping the tradition to feature big names as cameos in the "Anchorman" franchise, McKay promises the sequel will involve "a murderer's row of the best day players ever." He adds, "Like having every single one line or three line role, just be someone we just love. Someone like Ian Roberts or Rob Huebel or Paula Killen - just making sure every day player is a homerun."
In addition to Ferrell, "Anchorman 2" will bring back Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and Christina Applegate to its cast ensemble. The movie still hasn't got a U.S. release date.
