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Nov 30, 2021 · Nov. 30, 2021 11:54 AM PT. When director Adam McKay and his former creative partner Will Ferrell broke up their production company in 2019, their longtime friendship ended too — because McKay ...
- nardine.saad@latimes.com
- Staff Writer
Nov 29, 2021 · Adam McKay opened up about his falling out with partner Will Ferrell, saying he didn't handle the situation well after he recast John C. Reilly in one of Ferrell's roles. ... 2021, 2:39 p.m. ET ...
- Fletcher Peters
Oct 28, 2021 · Sony Pictures. Drew Taylor. October 28, 2021 @ 2:15 PM. Back in the spring of 2019, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell announced that after 13 years of producing together they were splitting up. The team ...
Nov 29, 2021 · 3. Director Adam McKay (left) and actor Will Ferrell have collaborated on many projects including “Funny or Die,” “Anchorman,” and “Step Brothers.”. FilmMagic. In an October interview ...
- Samantha Ibrahim
- 1 min
- Creative differences led to the breakup of one of comedy's most prolific business partners.
- Best Netflix Movies
By Joseph Knoop
Updated: Nov 30, 2021 5:40 pm
Posted: Nov 29, 2021 9:14 pm
If you've ever wondered what happened to the glory days of Will Ferrell comedies like Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and Stepbrothers, director Adam McKay has an answer: "I f*cked up."
In a lengthy and acerbic profile piece from Vanity Fair, succinctly titled "Who the F*ck Cares About Adam McKay?" the longtime director, producer, and writer opened up about his career ahead of the release of his latest dark comedy "Don't Look Up."
McKay and Ferrell found themselves recruited to the set of SNL on the same week in the mid-90's, and the two later became close business partners, working together on the script for Anchorman. McKay and Ferrell's partnership would result in some of the 2000's most popular comedy films, including the aforementioned Talladega Nights, Stepbrothers, and The Other Guys. McKay and Ferrell similarly co-founded Funny or Die, the web-based comedy production house in 2007.
Alas, McKay went on to direct and co-write The Big Short, a much more political comedy based on the 2007-2008 financial crisis. It received four Oscar nominations and one win for best adapted screenplay. Despite this clear growth away from Ferrell comedy vehicles, McKay's agent Jimmy Miller kept pushing McKay to work again with Ferrell, who he also represented.
“Everything kept steering back towards, ‘Well, when are you going to work with Will?’” he says. “And then finally I was like, ‘Jimmy, come on. Clearly I’m going in a different direction. Hopefully, it’s no hard feelings.' I’ve learned some lessons,” McKay adds. “It’s always hard feelings.”
McKay dropped his agent and went on to produce 2018's Vice, the Oscar-nominated, critical bio of former United States Vice President Dick Cheney. Meanwhile, Ferrell released the critical and commercial failure Holmes & Watson, appearing alongside longtime co-star John C. Reilly. McKay was brought on in the latter stages of production to help with Holmes & Watson's theatrical edit, but described it as being "in rough shape" by the time he got there.
After multiple flirtations with shutting down Gary Sanchez Productions, the deciding blow to Ferrell and McKay's relationship came down to a casting decision in the upcoming HBO series about the 1980's Los Angeles Lakers. Ferrell, a huge Lakers fan, was replaced to play Lakers' owner Jerry Buss, by none other than John C. Reilly, who McKay wanted for the role and failed to inform Ferrell out of fear of hurting the actor's feelings.
McKay and Ferrell issued a joint statement in 2019 announcing their split as business partners, and the last time the pair reportedly spoke was a brief phone conversation to confirm the split.
"I’m like, ‘F*ck, Ferrell’s never going to talk to me again,'" McKay said. "So it ended not well.”
- Joseph Knoop
Nov 29, 2021 · Director Adam McKay, who was a frequent collaborator with comedian and actor Will Ferrell through their work together on Anchorman, Step Brothers, The Other Guys, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues ...
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Nov 29, 2021 · November 29, 2021 11:37 am. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP. Adam McKay opened up in detail for the first time about his professional split from Will Ferrell. The ...
