Great Odin’s raven! It’s hard to believe, but Anchorman is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and Will Ferrell couldn’t be prouder.
The iconic film, officially titled Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, features Ferrell, now 56, as the unforgettable news anchor. He is joined by a stellar cast including Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, and David Koechner.
Although Ferrell hasn’t donned Ron Burgundy’s politically incorrect persona on the big screen since the 2013 sequel, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, his pride in the film remains undiminished as it hits this significant milestone.
At the New York City premiere of Despicable Me 4 on June 9, Ferrell reflected on the Adam McKay-directed comedy. “I’m so proud of the legacy,” he shared with PEOPLE.
Ferrell added, “At the time, we couldn’t believe we were making such a weird, bizarre movie. I’m just so happy it has stayed in the zeitgeist all these years.”
To keep the quirky film alive in people’s minds, Ferrell has occasionally brought Ron Burgundy out of retirement.
Recently, Ferrell reprised his role as the mustached anchorman, not to report the news, but to roast Tom Brady. He appeared as Burgundy in Netflix’s Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady last month, introduced as “a living legend, a world-class lover, and the No. 1 news anchor in all of San Diego.”
Ferrell, in character, began his segment with, “My name is Ron Burgundy. I am a very big deal but tonight is not about me. We are here to honor a champion of the gridiron, a great American, a father, and a sexy man, a true patriot — until he was not, of course.”
Ferrell, as Burgundy, humorously commented on Brady’s “gorgeous” looks, from his cheekbones to his “million-watt smile” and eyes, saying, “A person could get lost in those eyes and right now I am that person.”
He humorously admonished himself, “Ron, pull it together. You’re a straight man. He’s making you question your sexuality. Stop looking at him. You’re here to make fun of him. Not fall in love. Concentrate!”
At the Despicable Me 4 premiere, Ferrell also channeled Burgundy by starting his campaign for this year’s PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive. On the red carpet, he said he’s “planting the seeds” to end up on the cover of the iconic issue, noting, “because you guys never have comedians.”
He added, “So get it going internally, all right? Sexiest Man.”
