Will Ferrell blast Paramount Pictures of 'Anchorman 2' controversy

Are the newsroom lights dimming on the legendary San Diego newsman turned iconic national co-anchor, Ron Burgundy?

The hilariously funny movie about a dopey egotistical 70s local news anchor which brought about the popular saying 'I love lamp' released in 2004, starred Will Ferrell and brought actors Paul Rudd and Steve Carell to the forefront of comedy superstardom. The movie grossed $90m worldwide on a budget of $26m, yet it doesn't seem to be enough for Paramount Pictures to give the go-ahead to a sequel.

Ferrell told an audience of journalists, "Anchorman 2, you really have to assert some sort of email hate campaign to Paramount Pictures. They've told us, 'We've run the numbers and it's not a good fit.'" (via CinemaBlend)

Will Ferrell and Anchorman director Adam McKay are not impressed as they now have to scrap their idea for Anchorman 2 which intended, like Marx Brothers famous for their improvisational comedy in free-form scenarios, do a Broadway musical that becomes a film after the stage show. Ferrell says, "Everyone we tell the idea to loves it, except for the studio that owns the rights. Ball's in their courts, but they're being idiots."

McKay tweeted 'So bummed. Paramount basically passed on Anchorman 2. Even after we cut our budget down. We tried.'

Ferrell told Entertainment Weekly last May, "Well, you know, yeah, it's a little peculiar. On the one hand, [we were] being begged to do a sequel for such a long time, and then we finally came up with a concept that we liked, we talked to all the guys, and everyone was up for it," he revealed. "And then to get the reaction we got, yeah, it's slightly puzzling to us. But you know what? It's also their money. They get to do or not do whatever they want. So we'll see. We're still going back and forth. Maybe there is a solution. Or, I know in talking to Adam, if it never happens, then it never happens. And that's fine, too. So we'll just see."

Ferrell, who is wrapping up a cameo appearance on 'The Office', recently said how financing had fallen through on big studio project plans he had but how it has afforded him the opportunity to try new things.

Watch ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ trailer here: