Ron Burgundy will return in sequel
Will Ferrell has announced he is to reprise his Ron Burgundy role in a sequel to cult classic Anchorman.
The actor made a surprise, in-character appearance on Conan O’Brien’s US talk show to confirm a deal with Paramount Pictures.
Ferrell entered playing the jazz flute before making the announcement.
A sequel to the 2004 hit comedy, Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, has long been discussed.
And “Burgundy” told O’Brien: “I want to announce this to everyone in the Americas, to our friends in Spain, Turkey and the UK, including England.
“As of 0900 mountain time, Paramount Pictures and myself, Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy, have come to terms on a sequel to Anchorman.
“It is official, there will be a sequel to Anchorman.”
He had earlier directed some insults at the host, telling O’Brien – “You look like someone put a bright-red fright wig on a skeleton and chucked it out of a helicopter.”
A spoof of a 1970′s TV newsroom from San Diego, the film also starred Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Fred Willard and Christina Applegate.
It grossed ?56m at the box office and introduced catchphrases like “You stay classy, San Diego” and “I love lamp”.
Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy.
If you haven’t already heard this, we don’t know to put this… But it’s kind of a big deal…
Direct from the Channel 4 (not that one, the one) horse’s mouth, Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy had his own breaking news last night that has left the world in the direct opposite of a glass case of emotion… And has sent Twitter into Anchorman quote overload… Yes, a sequel to his 2004 comedy hit “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” has been formally announced.
Formally announcing the return of San Diego’s favourite fictional broadcaster in a very informal in-character appearance on late-night talk show “Conan”, Burgundy declared: “It’s official, there will be a sequel to Anchorman.”
The announcement came after the five-time (local) Emmy Award-winning journalist turned up on set performing on his jazz flute.
Paying tribute to the show’s house band and suggesting they all smoke a little tea backstage after the programme, Burgundy also had a few words of advice for host Conan O’Brien.
Having compared the 48-year-old to looking like a skeleton wearing a bright red fright wig that had been chucked it out of a helicopter, Ron suggested a bit of an image overhaul was in order.
Ron Burgundy and his mustache traveled all the way from the 1970′s to do three things tonight:
1.) Play some kick-ass jazz flute on TBS’s Conan.
2.) Tell Conan O’Brien he looks like he’s dying.
3.) Announce that his 2004 movie, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”, is now getting a sequel.
Clad in his character’s signature wine-colored suit, Will Ferrell appears on tonight’s show and early footage has already leaked out. He made some crude sexual comparisons between his flute and his penis before praising O’Brien and sidekick Andy Richter for being “outstanding broadcasters.”
The pompous anchor of San Diego’s Action 4 News had only one criticism – “It’s probably only something a professional like me would notice, but Conan — you look awful.”
Burgundy insisted he was only giving the late-night host some tough love. “You look like someone put a bright red fright wig on a skeleton. And chucked it out of a helicopter” – Burgundy said. “I’m being kind right here.”
He offered O’Brien some words of advice: Fire his hair, make-up, and wardrobe people. “Just go under the knife, okay?” he suggested. “Go into your doctor’s office and point at your face and say: ‘Doc, it’s a page-one rewrite.’”
Almost as an afterthought, Burgundy got around to the point of his appearance:
“As of 0900 Mountain Time, Paramount Pictures and myself, Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy, have come to terms on a sequel to Anchorman” – he declared. “It is official! There will be a sequel to Anchorman. There will be a sequel.”
He then walked off, tootling his flute.
Will Steve Carell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner also be returning? Will more than eight years have elapsed in Ron Burgundy’s time-period, or is he still smack in the middle of the 1970′s? When will this movie begin shooting or hit theaters?
Like any smart newsman, Burgundy didn’t stick around to answer questions.