Harrison Ford has fooled us all. While we were preoccupied wondering if Ford will be in the upcoming Star Wars, he came out of left field confirming he has joined the cast of Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Literally the best breaking news we could dream of sharing, it comes off the heels of the equally wonderful news that Kristen Wiig will also be in the long-dreamed of sequel.
Plot details of Anchorman 2 are being kept under wraps, though writer/director Adam McKay said it will centre on the rise of the 24-hour news cycle. Bringing back the characters and cast from the 2004 film–Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Christina Applegate–which gradually gained a massive following, McKay also confirmed there will be song and dance numbers.
Ford himself is no stranger to the world of broadcast news, or at least acting the part. The star of the 2010 romantic comedy Morning Glory, Ford played a grumpy news anchor brought on to co-host a failing morning show which he thought was beneath him. In a dream world he’d reprise a similar demeanor and get into a cage fight with Ron Burgundy. On air.
Beyond the guessing game of who Han Solo will be playing, this casting choice should come with a caveat: With so many great comedians signed on the film, do we need to start tempering our expectations? The issue isn’t a lack of faith, but rather a concern that with all this hype the film might not be able to live up to fans’ expectations. This is always the risk in marketing a film, which might explain why the Anchorman 2 camp has been largely quiet. As we approach the December release date, things are going to ramp up. Anchorman and Burgendy’s mustache have a place in many people’s hearts. Let’s just hope Ford fits in, too.
