When Anchorman came out in 2004, Will Ferrell’s star had never been hotter. He was fresh off Saturday Night Live and the movies Elf and Old School. Frankly, there was no bigger star in comedies than Will Ferrell.
But Anchorman was something different. Something about this movie hit even harder than his past films. Backed by an impressive cast that boasted Christina Applegate, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner, the film went onto generate a cult following amidst comedy fans. It also helped lead the way to producer Judd Apatow’s directorial debut, 40 Year-Old Virgin. That in turn broke Carrell, Seth Rogen, and the whole group. And it all started with Anchorman.
Breaking down Anchorman's iconic legacy in comedy film.
Anchorman’s legacy is cemented in a new book by Saul Austerlitz, Kind of a Big Deal. The book spoke with the entire cast and crew that made up the film, including its stars, director Adam McKay, and more. As the official synopsis states, the book “isn’t only a celebration of Anchorman—it’s also a cultural analysis of the film’s significance as a sly commentary on feminism, the media, fragile masculinity, 1970s nostalgia, and more.”
If you ever wanted to know the story behind the epic battle sequence, find out who the inspiration for the characters were, or learn about the original version of the film you didn’t get to see, this is the book for you!
Kind of a Big Deal is available now.
