Adam McKay, who directed both Anchorman movies and co-wrote them with Will Ferrell, said in an interview with Empire that the Anchorman series is over. Here’s what he said:
“It’s done. I think that’s it. It was great to do it and it was so fun to work with those guys again, but I think that’s it for Ron Burgundy … No, that’s the last sequel we’re gonna do. There’s nothing more fun to me than new characters and a new world. And now we’re releasing this alt version, we’re totally satisfied. No Anchorman 3.â€
When asked if he’d ever consider doing another Anchorman in 10 years, McKay replied, “I’m going to say definitely no. I’ll actually say it in this case.â€
The “that’s the last sequel†part seems to mean there also won’t be a sequel to Ferrell and McKay’s Step Brothers either. Ferrell said in 2012 that they were about to start writing the movie, but it looks like those plans are called off. Anchorman 2 has grossed over $160 million worldwide thus far, perhaps short of expectations of its massive marketing campaign but it’s still a legitimate hit. With an extended, R-rated cut with over 700 new jokes in it hitting theaters tomorrow, Anchorman 2 will probably be making even more money, so it’s surprising a sequel isn’t in the works.
As far as what McKay’s working on next, he’s prepping to direct a remake of the 1974 Bill Cosby/Sidney Poitier movie Uptown Saturday Night, with Will Smith attached, and a movie based on Michael Lewis’s book about the 2008 financial crisis, The Big Short.