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Apr 2, 2023 · Adam McKay Reveals Why He and Will Ferrell Split. For the better part of the current century, Don't Look Up director Adam McKay and multi-hyphenate comedian Will Ferrell came part and parcel, co ...
Nov 30, 2021 · Director Adam McKay explains how his Lakers project led to a split with Will Ferrell. Actor Will Ferrell, left, and director Adam McKay’s projects include “Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights ...
- nardine.saad@latimes.com
- Staff Writer
- 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
Oct 29, 2021 · Will Ferrell and Adam McKay split because they had different business goals. During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Will Ferrell talked about his career and goals as a producer and ...
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 ...
- Zack Sharf
Nov 29, 2021 · McKay had cast Ferrell as Buss, the legendary ’80s-era team owner, but preferred Ferrell’s real life best friend John C. Reilly. “The truth is, the way the show was always going to be done ...
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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 ...
