Adam McKay’s split with Will Ferrell re-examined in light of upcoming film

Director Adam McKay recalls that his professional separation from Will Ferrell went beyond their careers to a much more personal level. The two barely even speak anymore.

McKay moving on since the split

The split of one of Hollywood’s most notorious comedy duos has been back on the radar amid anticipation of the ‘Don’t Look Up’ director’s new movie, ‘Average Height, Average Build’.

The new celebrity ensemble serial killer comedy will see the likes of A-List celebrities such as Robert Pattinson, Forest Whitaker, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr., and Danielle Deadwyler, who already have signed contracts.

The film’s storyline follows a serial killer who pressures political lobbyists to make room in the law for murder. The movie is reportedly a comment on “big, dirty money.”

What happened with Adam McKay and Will Ferrell?

The ‘Stepbrothers’ actor recalled that his working relationship with Will Ferrell “ended not well”, and takes responsibility for his role in the split.

For the last several decades, the pair have been making contemporary classic comedies such as ‘Anchorman’, ‘Stepbrothers’, ‘Talladega Nights’ and ‘The Other Guys’.

Then in 2019, McKay and Ferrell released a joint statement announcing their split, emphasizing that they will “always work together creatively and always be friends.”

“[We] recognize we are lucky as hell to end this venture as such.”

McKay told Vanity Fair that the old friends have had a complete falling out and that they haven’t been in touch since.

Who blames who?

The actor and director said he was the one that “f***ed up,” because he cast John C. Reily as the role of legendary Los Angeles Lakers manager Jerry Buss on HBO limited series ‘Winning Time’ instead of Ferrell, who was originally scheduled for the part.

The series, about the LA Lakers in the ‘80s adapted from the book ‘Showtime’ by Jeff Pearlman, was much-anticipated by Ferrell, who is a “huge Lakers fan”.

Much to Ferrell’s chagrin, McKay heard from stakeholders there was widespread doubt about Ferrell making a believable Buss, and reached the same conclusions in his own mind.

“Ferrell just doesn’t look like Jerry Buss, and he’s not that vibe of a Jerry Buss,” McKay said. “And there were some people involved who were like, ‘We love Ferrell, he’s a genius, but we can’t see him doing it.’”

The way he handled the re-casting is where McKay’s true regrets lie. He didn’t tell his friend he was ousted from the production until it was too late.

“[I] didn’t want to hurt his feelings,” McKay recalled, “wanted to be respectful.”

“Because he’s a stand-up guy.”

The end of the production company

Soon after their production company split up, and though he’s sent some emails, Mckay hasn’t heard back from his long-time pal.

“I f***ed up on how I handled that,” McKay lamented. “It’s the old thing of keep your side of the street clean. I should have just done everything by the book.”

The former friends had a phone call to discuss the logistics of their company’s severance, which McKay recounted during the interview. The director said it was “tremendously frosty”.

“I said, ‘Well, I mean, we’re splitting up the company,’” McKay said. “And he basically was like, ‘Yeah, we are,’ and basically was like, ‘Have a good life.’ And I’m like, ‘F**k, Ferrell’s never going to talk to me again.’ So it ended not well.”