Paramount Pictures UK is gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic comedy “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” with a special “Stay Classy” Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. This highly anticipated release is set to hit the market on August 5th, marking two decades since the film’s original release on July 9, 2004.
“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” was the directorial debut of Adam McKay and was co-written by McKay and Will Ferrell, who also stars as the titular character, Ron Burgundy. The film boasts an ensemble cast of comedic heavyweights, including Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, and Fred Willard, along with numerous memorable cameos.
Set in the 1970s, the film humorously explores the male-dominated world of local TV news, where Ron Burgundy and his Channel 3 News Team reign supreme in San Diego. The arrival of ambitious female reporter Veronica Corningstone, played by Christina Applegate, disrupts their testosterone-fueled newsroom, leading to a hilarious battle of the sexes. The film’s witty dialogue and unforgettable scenes have cemented its status as one of the greatest comedies of all time.
The 20th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray set promises to be a treasure trove for fans. It includes a remastered version of the film in stunning 4K resolution, along with two Blu-ray discs packed with over two hours of bonus content. This includes cast auditions, deleted scenes, bloopers, and the “Afternoon Delight” music video, among other treats. Additionally, the set features both the theatrical and extended cuts of the film, as well as “Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie,” a 92-minute compilation of outtakes and unused storylines from the original film.
The 4K Blu-ray disc offers a Dolby Vision/HDR presentation, with audio options in English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Subtitles are available in multiple languages, including English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish.
The Blu-ray discs include both the theatrical and extended versions of the film, with commentary by Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Lou Rawls, Andy Richter, Kyle Gass, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and Christina Applegate. Fans can also enjoy deleted and extended scenes, bloopers, the “Afternoon Delight” music video, and an ESPN SportsCenter audition featuring Ron Burgundy. Audio options and subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish.
The third Blu-ray disc, “Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie,” includes an intro-commentary by Will Ferrell and Aaron Zimmerman, a PSA, an award speech, raw footage of “Good Takes,” the “Afternoon Delight” recording session, interviews, specials, cast auditions, a table read from June 2, 2003, rehearsals, playback video, commercial breaks, and trailers. Audio is available in English Stereo, with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
The Collector’s Edition also comes with a rigid board slipcase, a poster, five art cards, five character cards, a Channel 4 News sticker, and a booklet titled “The Many Months of Burgundy.” All these extras make it a must-have for any “Anchorman” fan.
Will Ferrell’s portrayal of the chauvinistic yet lovable Ron Burgundy, who faces a career crisis when Veronica Corningstone joins the news team, remains a highlight of his career. The film’s success led to a sequel, “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” released in 2013.
As the 20th anniversary approaches, fans can look forward to reliving the hilarity of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” in glorious 4K. The pre-orders for this special edition are already underway, and it promises to be a fitting tribute to a film that has left an indelible mark on the world of comedy.
