Studio puts the kibosh on comedy follow-up

Plans for a sequel to cult comedy blockbuster Anchorman have been permanently shelved – after the Paramount studio turned down the idea.

The cast of the original, including Steve Carell, Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd, had even agreed to a pay cut to help get the follow-up made.

But director Adam McKay said studio executives still passed on the idea, leaving the project dead in the water.

‘So bummed. Paramount basically passed on Anchorman 2. Even after we cut our budget down. We tried,’ he Tweeted.

He later added that he couldn’t make the film with another studio as Paramount owns the rights.

Earlier in the week, McKay told MTV News how the original cast was back on board and ready to star shooting next year.

‘Steve and Paul and everyone agreed to cut their price to come and do it, which you don’t see very often in Hollywood — and cut their price substantially,’ he said. ‘But even with that, it’s just a budgetary thing with Paramount.’

The 2004 original earned $85 million at the box office, and has since become a cult classic on DVD.

Published: 30 Apr 2010