We interrupt your regularly-scheduled Mayan apocalypse plans to bring you a very important announcement: Paramount has set a release date of December 20, 2013 for Anchorman: The Legend Continues. The sequel to 2004′s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy will feature the return of director Adam McKay and principal actors Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner. The story will once again center on some of San Diego’s zaniest newspeople, but will now see them amid the culture of the 24-hour news cycle. Oh and there will totally be a fully-choreographed musical number. Hit the jump for more. 

When we last left Anchorman 2, director and co-writer Adam McKay was willing to divulge little about the highly-anticipated sequel.  The only hints he dropped about the plot were the couple phrases “Bowling for dollars” and “custody battle”.  Now he’s provided a few more details about the story, and they sound perfect for the Channel 4 news team and the comic potential for the sequel.

Hit the jump for more.  Paramount is reportedly considering a release of the film somewhere between Christmas 2013 and summer 2014.

It still hasn’t completely sunk in that Anchorman 2 is becoming a reality.  Granted, we probably won’t see it until late 2013 at the earliest, but after waiting this long for the return of the Channel 4 News Team, I can wait a little bit longer.  Considering the genius of the first movie, I’m game for whatever co-writer and director Adam McKay has in store for the sequel, and now he’s dropped a couple of brief hints on what we can possibly expect to see in Ron Burgundy’s next adventure.

Hit the jump for what McKay had to say about Anchorman 2, which is scheduled to begin shooting in February.  [Update: THR reports that the movie is budgeted at $50 million (the first film cost $26 million), and Paramount is considering release dates ranging from Christmas 2013 to summer 2014.  The sequel will also be a period piece like the original, but McKay wouldn't say what period.]

Last week presented me with the first opportunity I’ve had in a while to catch two movies in a theater within 24 hours of one another (cue the scoffing of real cinephiles). While I’ll sure that I’ll be hammered for that previous statement when it comes time to renew my movie blogger certification, the truth is that, in the small market I call home, only the most mainstream of the mainstream films ever make it to the silver screen. So, with that said, I’d just like to thank the creative forces behind 21 Jump Street and The Hunger Games for giving me the opportunity to spend 1/6 of a day at the movies with films that, while drastically different in almost every conceivable metric, were solid from beginning to end.

Moving on, in this week’s installment the Top 5 is offering modest coverage of Anchorman 2‘s forward progress, Wrath of the Titans interviews with Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, director Jonathan Liebesman and more, the debut of our new podcast, The Collision, The Dark Knight Rises trailer in Lego form, and a recap of some of the week’s top trailers. Per usual, you can find a brief recap and link to each after the jump.

Yesterday came the joyous news that we would finally be getting a sequel to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.  We know that Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carell will all be reprising their lovably buffoonish character, Adam McKay will return to the director’s chair, and filming is set to begin in February.  If Anchorman 2 returns with only people from the original cast, I have no problem with that.  But sequels usually bring new faces, so I’ve compiled a list of 12 actors who would fit well within the Anchorman universe.  Keep in mind: I have no idea what the plot will be, or if there will be roles for these actors, and how radically McKay will change the look of the first movie.  The Legend of Ron Burgundy has a goofy 70s vibe, but it’s possible they’ll reset the time and place (the first movie ends with Ron and Veronica leaving San Diego to become worldwide news anchors).  Also, I’m not saying that all of these actors should be in the movie.  I’m just saying I can see them fitting into an Anchorman sequel.

Hit the jump for my criteria on making the list and who made the cut.

Earlier today, Steve sat down with Will Ferrell for Casa de mi Padre, and learned some good news and some bad news.  Bad news first: Anchorman 2 remains dead.  There were places for a sequel to go, but the movie isn’t going anywhere.  Now the good news: you may remember that last May, Ferrell said he, John C. Reilly, and writer-director Adam McKay were considering a sequel to Step Brothers.  Today, Ferrell told Steve that they are going to start writing a script really soon with the hope of filming it in the fall.

That’s a fairly quick turnaround.  In June, we heard that McKay and Ferrell were considering the football comedy Three Mississippi.  The movie is about two Philadelphia neighbors whose annual Thanksgiving game of tackle football has become extraordinarily heated.  I like that premise, but you won’t hear me complaining if Step Brothers 2 goes in front of cameras first.  I’m always up for a fuckin’ Catalina wine mixer.  Look for part of Steve’s interview later today (we’ll update this article) but until then, watch the trailer for the first Step Brothers after the jump.

There are two kinds of people in this world: people who are fans of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and people who aren’t. Either you totally get someone’s “Milk was a bad choice” tattoo or you blankly stare at the 2004 film starring Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and Christina Applegate. Those who are fans probably already own the DVD, have probably burned it out and only need to know one thing about the Blu-ray. Buy or not to buy? Well, the answer is buy. There’s plenty of new stuff to warrant a hilarious upgrade. Hit the jump for details.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy isn’t a movie that demands a high-definition presentation, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick up the Blu-ray.  The “Rich Mahogany Edition” Blu-ray of Anchorman is only available at Best Buy and it’s a gift set that comes with trading cards (which have hilarious facts and a bio for each of the film’s main characters), Ron’s day planner, and the disc itself has bonus features not included in the original DVD release.

The gift set is only $9.99 at BestBuy.com plus shipping (or you can order it for in-store pick-up).  Go buy it and stay classy or I’m gonna punch you in the ovary. Right to the babymaker.  Hit the jump for the full list of special features.  Also, in other great Anchorman news, director Adam McKay says that there’s still hope for a sequel.

It’s not often I’m blindsided by a home video release, but that’s what just happened as I got a press release informing me of a new Blu-ray of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy that includes 50 minutes of new outtakes and extra features!  The edition is called Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy The Unrated “Rich Mahogany” Edition and it’s going to be sold as an exclusive at Best Buy starting August 31st!  With Anchorman being one of the best comedies of the last decade, this is a must own Blu-ray.  According to the press release, the new extras include:

• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Raw Footage “Good Takes”
• “Afternoon Delight” Recording Session
• AMC Loews Happy Birthday
• Cast Auditions
• Table Read
• Trailers (HD)

Also included will be The Many Months Of Burgundy Book, Collectible Trading Cards, and more.  While all too often movie studios will force fans to double dip while offering close to nothing new, this is one of those times I’m more than willing to spend my money.  If you’re a fan of director Adam McKay’s Anchorman, hit the jump for cover art and full details on the new Blu-ray.

I’ve really enjoyed the lists I’ve posted this week and I hope you have too.  I keep notes year-round on everything I feel is worth noting about particular movies so I don’t forget and I can compile it into what (hopefully) makes or an informative read.  However, this list I’ve been dreading.  Unlike the other lists, there’s no real recommendation at work here.  It’s a list designed to highlight mostly beloved and established films.  It’s also difficult to factor in films of 2008 and 2009 because I don’t know their staying power.  Finally, it’s a list that will ultimately please no one because there’s no way I can narrow the hundreds of great films that have come out over the last ten years into twenty that I’ve determined are better than all the rest.  So why am I doing it?  I have my reasons.  They’re not very good ones, but I have them.

The decade is ending, these films left an impact on me, and so I’ll call them out for their greatness and accept that there were plenty of other movies that could have filled in just as easily.

Hit the jump to start the countdown.

“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” is a film that gets better every time I see it.  It’s so quotable (“Milk was a bad choice” and “I immediately regret this decision!” are the ones I use most often) and having Ferrell, Rudd, Koechner, and Carell together was like catching magic in a bottle (Oh, I also use “I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany,”).  Director Adam McKay has provided a new update on the status of “Anchorman 2″.  Hit the jump to be polite and rarely late.