Movies With Butter

Not that it really needed any extra star power, what with the previously announced presences of Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, Christina Applegate, and David Koechner, but Anchorman: The Legend Continues is still expanding its cast, and James Marsden is the latest to join.

Deadline reports that "while plot details have been kept largely under wraps, sources tell Deadline he’ll play a rival anchor and nemesis to Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy in the sequel." As the report notes, Marsden has been on something of a comedic roll lately, with the onetime X-Men star popping up in an extended 30 Rock arc as well as last year's Kirsten Dunst-led VOD favorite, Bachelorette.

Director Adam McKay is prepping for a March start date on the film, which is currently scheduled for a December 20 release. The original Anchorman, released in July 2004, turned into a left-field success for Paramount, racking up more than $90 million at the box office on its way to cult status on the home video market. Still, Anchorman 2 wasn't an automatic go; Ferrell and McKay took their time cooking up an idea for the story, and even when they were ready to make the movie, Paramount initially balked at the budget. All's well that ends well, though -- and with the cast continuing to grow, it's probably safe to assume McKay still has some money to work with.

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