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Adam McKay

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Adam McKay
McKay in 2019
Born (1968-04-17) April 17, 1968 (age 56)
EducationPenn State University
Temple University
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active1986–present
OrganizationHyperobject Industries
Spouse
(m. 1999)
Children2
RelativesJeremy Piven (brother-in-law)

Adam McKay (born April 17, 1968) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. McKay began his career as a head writer for the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1995 to 2001. Following his departure from SNL, he rose to fame in the 2000s for his collaborations with comedian Will Ferrell and co-wrote his comedy films Anchorman (2004), Talladega Nights (2006), Step Brothers (2008), The Other Guys (2010), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013). Ferrell and McKay later co-wrote and co-produced many television series and films, with McKay himself co-producing their website Funny or Die through their company, Gary Sanchez Productions.

McKay began venturing into more dramatic territory in the 2010s. He wrote and directed the satirical films The Big Short (2015), Vice (2018), and Don't Look Up (2021). For each film, McKay received several nominations for the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, and for the scripts in both the Adapted and Original screenplay categories.[1][2][3] In 2019, McKay founded the production company Hyperobject Industries.

Early life and education

[edit]

McKay was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts[4] and later Malvern, Pennsylvania[5] by his mother, Sarah, a waitress, and his father, a musician.[6][7] When McKay was seven his parents divorced.[6] He attended Great Valley High School in Malvern, where he graduated in 1986. He then attended Penn State University for a year prior to transferring to Temple University, where he majored in English. McKay dropped out of Temple a semester-and-a-half before he was set to earn his bachelor's degree. He described it as "settling with an imaginary degree".[8]

Career

[edit]

McKay is one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy group and a former performer at Chicago's ImprovOlympic, where he was a member of the improv group, The Family, whose members included Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Neil Flynn, Miles Stroth, and Ali Farahnakian, as well as Child's Play Touring Theatre.[6]

Saturday Night Live

[edit]
Adam McKay at the 2015 premiere of "Ant-Man" at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
McKay at the Hollywood premiere of Ant-Man in June 2015

McKay originally auditioned for Saturday Night Live to be an onscreen performer, but did not make the cut. However, the scripts he submitted earned him a job as a writer in 1995. Within a year, McKay became head writer at age 27, a position he held until 2001.[9] He also directed a number of short films for the show, including the original SNL Digital Shorts.[10] McKay encouraged his Second City friend Tina Fey to submit some of her scripts to Saturday Night Live, and she later succeeded him as head writer.[11] Though McKay was never an actual SNL cast member, he did make several on-camera appearances over the years and had a recurring role as an obnoxious audience member "Keith" who would often shout insults at the celebrity hosts during their opening monologue.[12]

Shortly after leaving SNL, McKay teamed up with comedian Will Ferrell to form production company Gary Sanchez Productions and write the comedy films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Step Brothers (2008), and The Other Guys (2010), all of which he also directed, produced and made cameo appearances in as an actor. Ferrell and McKay co-produced the HBO series Eastbound & Down.[13]

McKay was one of the writers for the film The Campaign (2012), and produced the film Daddy's Home (2015), the latter of which reunited The Other Guys stars Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, and was directed by Sean Anders. McKay also rewrote the script for the Marvel Studios feature film Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed; McKay had initially been in talks to direct the film following Edgar Wright's departure, but opted not to out of respect for Wright.[14][15] McKay also worked with Reed, Paul Rudd, Gabriel Ferrari & Andrew Barrer on Ant-Man and the Wasp to flesh out the story.[16] He has also expressed interest in helming a Silver Surfer movie for Marvel Studios.[17]

Films and television

[edit]

He produced the films Land of the Lost (2009), The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009), The Virginity Hit (2010), Casa de Mi Padre (2012), Bachelorette (2012), Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012), The Campaign (2012), Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), Tammy (2014), Welcome to Me (2014), Get Hard (2015), Sleeping with Other People (2015), Daddy's Home (2015), and The Boss (2016).

In addition to Eastbound & Down, McKay has produced the TV series Big Lake and Succession, whose pilot he directed, and the miniseries The Spoils of Babylon, and The Chris Gethard Show.

In April 2019, McKay and Ferrell announced that they were separating as producing partners but would continue producing all projects currently in development or in production at Gary Sanchez Productions.[18] It was later revealed the reason for the split was due to the fact that McKay cast John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss on the show Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, a role that Ferrell had coveted, without informing him.[19]

Hyperobject Industries

[edit]

In 2019, McKay launched a new production company, Hyperobject Industries, which has a first look overall television deal with HBO and had a first-look feature deal at Paramount Pictures. Hyperobject Industries' first television project was an HBO pilot based on Jeff Pearlman's non-fiction book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. McKay directed the pilot.[20][21] More recently, McKay's Hyperobject Industries has a first look deal with Apple.[22]

Directing

[edit]
McKay at the Australian premiere of Anchorman 2 in November 2013

McKay has directed, and co-written with Will Ferrell, the films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Step Brothers (2008), The Other Guys (2010), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013). He has directed an "alternate film" about Ron Burgundy that is considered a companion to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) entitled Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (2004), which is made up mostly of alternative takes, deleted scenes, and scrapped sub-plots from the original film strung together with a narrative.

McKay directed and co-wrote with Ferrell the George W. Bush Broadway show You're Welcome America. He produced the horror-action film Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.[23]

McKay directed the TV movie documentary Lifecasters (2013). He has directed a number of short films, including digital shorts for Saturday Night Live, and the short video "Good Cop, Baby Cop" for Funny or Die that stars his daughter Pearl. Among the other short films he has directed include The Procedure (2007) starring Will Ferrell, Willem Dafoe, and Andy Richter, Green Team (2008) starring Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and himself, and the K-Swiss commercial, Kenny Powers: The K-Swiss MFCEO (2011), starring Danny McBride as Kenny Powers from Eastbound & Down, which he co-produces with Ferrell and has also directed an episode of.

He directed and wrote the film adaptation of the Michael Lewis non-fiction book The Big Short, about the financial and subprime mortgage crisis of 2007-2008,[24] and the build-up of the financial and credit bubble. The film opened in limited release on December 11, 2015, expanded to wide release on December 23, 2015; the film starred Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell. He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work in the film, winning his first Academy Award in the latter category. In 2016, he and co-writer Charles Randolph received the USC Scripter Award for their screenplay.

In 2016, he became attached to the superhero film Irredeemable based on the comic of the same name by Mark Waid.[25]

In November 2016, McKay began development of the biographical black comedy Backseat, about former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and his rise to power, though the title was eventually changed to Vice.[26][27] Starring Christian Bale as Cheney, the film was released in the United States on December 25, 2018, by Annapurna Pictures.[27] Despite polarized reviews,[28] Vice received eight nominations at the 91st Academy Awards, including the Best Picture and McKay's second nomination for Best Director, and won for Best Make-Up and Hairstyling.[29]

In 2020, McKay began working on the satirical black comedy Don't Look Up, about two low level scientists trying to convince the world that a catastrophic comet is coming. McKay wrote the script and produced the film for Netflix. Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Rob Morgan, Tyler Perry, Meryl Streep, and Cate Blanchett star in the film.[30][31][32] It received a limited theatrical release in December 2021, before streaming on Netflix later in the month.[33] The film received four nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

McKay was set to work with Jennifer Lawrence for the biographical film Bad Blood, about entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, and based on the book Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup.[34] Originally set to be produced by Legendary Pictures and released by Universal Pictures, in December 2021, the project was picked up by Apple Studios.[35] In November 2022, however, Lawrence left the project due to not wanting to copy Amanda Seyfried's performance in The Dropout. The current status of the project is unknown.[36]

In March 2023, it was revealed that McKay's next project would be titled Average Height, Average Build, a political satire focused on a serial killer. The film was set to star Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr., Forest Whitaker, and Danielle Deadwyler.[37] On April 30, 2023, it was announced the project had been acquired by Netflix.[38] On December 4, 2023, it was announced that McKay had left the project to pursue a film on climate change, and the project was subsequently scrapped.[39]

Funny or Die

[edit]

In 2007, McKay and Ferrell launched the user-submitted comedy video site Funny or Die. A video on the site, titled The Landlord,[40] features both him and his young daughter, Pearl, whom Ferrell and his wife bait to say curse words. Pearl also starred in a second video titled Good Cop, Baby Cop.

Podcasting

[edit]

From November 2015 until October 2016, McKay hosted the science/comedy podcast Surprisingly Awesome with Adam Davidson, produced by Gimlet Media.[41] McKay additionally produced Broken: Jeffrey Epstein and Broken: Seeking Justice, a podcast series that explored the Jeffrey Epstein case. His next podcast project, Death at the Wing, investigated a series of deaths among high-profile young basketball players in the 1980s and 1990s. In February 2022, he appeared as a guest on Smartless, a comedic podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. In 2023, he hosted Death on the Lot about celebrity deaths in Hollywood in the 1950s.[42][43][44][45]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1999, he married Shira Piven, a film and television director.[46] They have two daughters.[2] His brother-in-law is actor Jeremy Piven.

Political views

[edit]

McKay supports gun control[47] and abortion rights.[48]

He has been critical of former President Bill Clinton. "I legitimately think Bill Clinton is one of the worst presidents in the modern age". McKay criticized Clinton for deregulating banks and for his personal life in light of the MeToo movement.[49]

McKay serves on the Creative Council of RepresentUs, a nonpartisan anti-corruption organization.[50] He was a supporter of the Democratic Party and endorsed Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in 2016 and again in 2020.[51][52][53] He identifies as a democratic socialist and joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2019.[54][55]

McKay was criticized for going soft on Democrats for their role in the Iraq War in his film Vice, which he later said was a mistake. "I regret not giving more blame to the Democrats, who went along with the war in Iraq...I made mistakes, read the reviews and went, 'Yes, fair,'" he told Variety in March 2022.[56]

In October 2023, McKay signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter to US president Joe Biden, calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.[57]

On November 6, 2024, after Donald Trump won the 2024 election for a second non-consecutive term, McKay announced that he would be leaving the Democratic Party, writing on X: “It is time to abandon the Dem Party. I’m registering Green Party or Working Families. But am open to ideas.”[58]

Activism

[edit]

McKay is a prominent voice for climate action. In 2022, he donated $4 million to the Climate Emergency Fund and joined its board of directors.[59] He has also donated to Just Stop Oil.[60]

In 2023, McKay founded Yellow Dot Studios to raise awareness and mobilize action on the Climate Emergency.[61][62][63] The non-profit company produces videos and campaigns to tackle the misinformation promoted by the oil industry.[64][65][66][67]

He has spoken prominently about his experience with climate anxiety and the importance of comedy and humor as tools in addressing the Climate Crisis, while he has also spoken in support of disruptive climate activism.[68][69][70][71][72][73][74]

Health

[edit]

At age 26, McKay first noticed shaking in his hands while performing with Second City. Around 2000, he was diagnosed with essential tremor.[75] The condition causes his body and voice to quiver. He conducts print interviews lying down and televised ones in a special high backed chair to accommodate his disability.[76][77]

In 2018, McKay had a heart attack while filming Vice, starring Christian Bale, whose character Dick Cheney has multiple heart attacks in the film. McKay credits his awareness of the issue from researching the film with his quick response that got him to the hospital before he incurred any permanent damage.[78] During an interview on the 347th episode of The Empire Film Podcast, McKay said: "Either Christian Bale or Dick Cheney just saved my life."[79]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Producer Other
2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Yes Yes No Also executive soundtrack producer
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Yes Yes No
2006 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Yes Yes Executive Also songwriter: "Guaranteed Cool"
2008 Step Brothers Yes Yes Executive Also songwriter: "Boats 'n Hoes", "Back and Forth", "Family Bible", and "Captain Benevent & His Ragtag Crew"
2010 The Other Guys Yes Yes Yes Also songwriter: "Pimps Don't Cry", "Let the Dragon Loose", "Lendl Global Jingle", and "Ugly Sunday"
2012 The Campaign No Story Yes
2013 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Yes Yes Yes Also executive soundtrack producer and songwriter: "Whammy Chicken", "Doby", "Big, Big World", and "Gay For a Day"
2015 Get Hard No Story Yes
Ant-Man No Yes No
The Big Short Yes Yes No
2018 Ant-Man and the Wasp No Uncredited No
Vice Yes Yes Yes
2021 Don't Look Up Yes Yes Yes
2025 The Thursday Murder Club No No Yes

Producer only

Executive producer only

Acting roles
Year Title Role
2002 God Hates Cartoons Uncle Gabby
2003 Pushing Tom The Boss
Felicia and the Great Quebec Big Dick Cash
2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Custodian
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
2006 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Terry Cheveaux
2008 Step Brothers Man without Glasses
2010 The Other Guys Dirty Mike

Television

[edit]
Year Title Director Executive
producer
Writer Notes
1995–2001 Saturday Night Live Yes No Yes Also credited as "Coordinator of Falconry"[81]
2009–2013 Eastbound & Down Yes Yes No Directed episode: "Chapter 5"
2010–2011 Funny or Die Presents Yes Yes Yes
2013 Lifecasters Yes No No Documentary film
2018–2023 Succession Yes Yes No Directed episode: "Celebration"
2022–2023 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Yes Yes No Directed episode: "The Swan"

Executive producer only

Year Title Notes
2010 Big Lake
2013–2019 Drunk History
2014 The Spoils of Babylon
2014–2015 Bad Judge
2015 The Spoils Before Dying
A Deadly Adoption Television film
2015–2017 The Chris Gethard Show
2017–2018 I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman
2017–2019 I'm Sorry
2017–2021 No Activity
2018 LA to Vegas
2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience Television specials
2019–2022 Dead to Me
2020 Robbie
2020–2022 Motherland: Fort Salem
2021 Q: Into the Storm Television documentary
2022 The Invisible Pilot Television documentary

Acting roles

Year Title Role Notes
1995–2001 Saturday Night Live Various 15 episodes (uncredited)
2007 Human Giant Alan Harkett (voice) Episode "24 Hour Marathon"

Web

[edit]
Year Title Director Producer Writer Actor Notes
2007 The Procedure Yes Yes Yes No
The Landlord No Yes Yes Yes Role: Friend
Good Cop, Baby Cop Yes Yes Yes Yes Role: Policeman
2008 Green Team Yes Yes Yes Yes Role: Erin Gossamer
Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Ad No Yes Yes No
Ron Howard's Call to Action No Yes Yes No
2008–2016 Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis No No Yes No
2010 Presidential Reunion No No Yes No
Will Ferrell's NYPD Recruitment Video No No Yes No
2011 A Public Statement from Anthony Weiner's Penis No No Yes No
2014 COPS: Ferguson No No Yes No
2015 Mexican Donald Trump No No Yes No
2017 The President's Sun No No Yes No

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Title Academy Awards BAFTA Awards Golden Globe Awards
Nominations Wins Nominations Wins Nominations Wins
2015 The Big Short 5 1 4 1 4
2018 Vice 8 1 6 1 6 1
2021 Don't Look Up 4 4 4
Total 17 2 14 2 14 1

Directed Academy Award performances

Year Performer Film Result
Academy Award for Best Actor
2019 Christian Bale Vice Nominated
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
2016 Christian Bale The Big Short Nominated
2019 Sam Rockwell Vice Nominated
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
2019 Amy Adams Vice Nominated

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WGA Awards: Adam McKay to Receive Paul Selvin Award". The Hollywood Reporter. January 31, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. ^ a b McNary, Dave (February 29, 2016). "Oscars: 'The Big Short's' Adam McKay Blasts Candidates Taking Money From Banks". Variety. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. ^ "Adapted Screenplay - The Big Short". bafta.org. January 6, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Semon, Craig (December 2, 2020). "Welcome home: Adam McKay, director of Netflix's 'Don't Look Up,' grew up in Worcester". Worcester Telegram. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Santoliquito, Joseph (February 26, 2016). "How Adam McKay went from Temple dropout to Oscar nominee". PhillyVoice. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Men in Blue, Under Arrested Adolescence". The New York Times. August 1, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  7. ^ "'The Other Guys' mothers take over in special Mom-entary". Entertainment Weekly.
  8. ^ Maehrer, Avery (December 12, 2013). "Anchorman director Adam McKay reflects on Philly past". The Temple News. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  9. ^ Weiner, Jonah (November 29, 2018). "Why the Director of 'Anchorman' Decided to Take On Dick Cheney". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  10. ^ Hutton, Ryan (April 24, 2015). "Chapter 9: I'm Kinda a Big Deal". Will Ferrell - Staying Classy: The Biography. Kings Road Publishing. ISBN 978-1784180362.
  11. ^ Schofner, Melissa Rae; Friedman, Lauri S. (2016). Tina Fey: Queen of Comedy. Greenhaven Publishing, LLC. p. 26. ISBN 978-1534560345.
  12. ^ "Adam McKay". IMDb. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  13. ^ Hotz, Amy (October 21, 2008). "StarNewsOnline.com". StarNewsOnline.com. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  14. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (October 19, 2014). "Adam McKay Reveals the Changes He Made to 'Ant-Man' Script". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  15. ^ Oldham, Stuart (May 31, 2014). "'Ant-Man': Adam McKay No Longer In Talks To Replace Director Edgar Wright". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  16. ^ Perry, Spencer (April 12, 2016). "Peyton Reed: Ant-Man and the Wasp Will Feature Things 'Never Seen in a Movie Before'". ComingSoon. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  17. ^ Davids, Brian (December 20, 2018). "'Vice' Director Adam McKay Is Interested in a 'Silver Surfer' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter.
  18. ^ McNary, Dave (April 6, 2019). "Will Ferrell, Adam McKay to End Production Partnership". Variety. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  19. ^ Hagan, Joe (November 29, 2021). "'Who the Fuck Cares About Adam McKay?' (We Do, and With Good Reason)". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  20. ^ Petski, Denise (December 6, 2019). "Adam McKay's L.A. Lakers Project Gets Series Order At HBO". Deadline. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  21. ^ Welk, Brian (November 8, 2019). "Adam McKay and Hyperobject Industries Sign First Look Deal With Paramount". The Wrap. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  22. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 15, 2021). "Apple Sets Adam McKay's Hyperobject Industries In Multi-Year First Look Movie Deal". Deadline. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  23. ^ "'Twilight' Stars Offered Roles in 'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters', Bloody-Disgusting.com
  24. ^ Lam, Bourree; White, Gillian B. (December 17, 2015). "Learning Finance via The Big Short". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  25. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 5, 2016). "20th Century Fox Taps BOOM! Superhero Tale 'Irredeemable'; Adam McKay Helms, Tommy Wirkola Scripting". Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  26. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 22, 2016). "Adam McKay To Direct Dick Cheney Movie At Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  27. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 28, 2018). "Adam McKay's Dick Cheney Project Now Titled 'Vice'; Will Go Wide On Christmas Day". Deadline Hollywood. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  28. ^ Nickolai, Nate (December 17, 2018). "'Vice' Reviews: What the Critics Are Saying". Variety. New York City. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  29. ^ France, Lisa Respers (January 22, 2019). "Oscars 2019: See who's nominated". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  30. ^ "Jennifer Lawrence to Star in Adam McKay Comedy 'Don't Look Up'". The Hollywood Reporter. February 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  31. ^ "Cate Blanchett Joins James Gray, Adam McKay's Next Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  32. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 14, 2020). "Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Cate Blanchett, Others Join Jennifer Lawrence In Netflix's 'Don't Look Up' For Adam McKay". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  33. ^ Brockington, Ariana (August 23, 2021). "Netflix Reveals Premiere Dates for Adam McKay's 'Don't Look Up,' Sandra Bullock Starrer 'The Unforgivable,' More Fall Movies". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  34. ^ Jaafar, Ali; Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 21, 2016). "'Bad Blood' Bids Mobilize for Jennifer Lawrence-Adam McKay Package: 9 Offers". Deadline. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  35. ^ Multiple sources:
  36. ^ White, Abbey (November 2, 2022). "Jennifer Lawrence Says She Has Departed Adam McKay's 'Bad Blood'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  37. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 24, 2023). "Hot Package: Adam McKay Lines Up Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr, Forest Whitaker & Danielle Deadwyler For Serial Killer Comedy 'Average Height, Average Build'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  38. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 30, 2023). "Netflix Lands Adam McKay's New Comedy 'Average Height, Average Build'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  39. ^ Peralta, Diego (December 4, 2023). "Adam McKay's 'Average Height, Average Build' Scrapped at Netflix". Collider. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  40. ^ "Will Ferrell and Pearl in The Landlord". Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  41. ^ "New Podcast: Surprisingly Awesome". Gimlet Media. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  42. ^ Sisario, Ben (September 4, 2019). "A Podcast From Adam McKay Examines Jeffrey Epstein and His World". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  43. ^ Holmes, Dave (September 16, 2020). "What We're Going Through Is Incomprehensible. That's Never Stopped Adam McKay". Esquire. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  44. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 31, 2021). "Adam McKay Hosts Docu Podcast Series 'Death At The Wing,' On Deaths Of Rising Hoop Stars Intertwined With Reagan Era Policies".
  45. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (May 18, 2023). "Adam McKay Launches 'Death on the Lot' Podcast Exploring 1950s Dead Celebrities". indiewire.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  46. ^ "Adam McKay". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  47. ^ "Hollywood stars signs pledge to control on-screen gun violence". June 13, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  48. ^ Dellatto, Marisa. "Over 400 TV Writers And Showrunners Demand Abortion Protections From Major Studios, Report Says". Forbes. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  49. ^ Birnbaum, Emily (November 19, 2018). "'Vice' director Adam McKay torches Bill Clinton, would choose Trump over Bush". The Hill. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  50. ^ "About | Represent. Us". Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  51. ^ Johnson, Ted (September 18, 2015). "Will Ferrell Among Bernie Sanders Celeb Supporters". Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  52. ^ "Artists for Bernie – Bernie Sanders". Archived from the original on January 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  53. ^ McKay, Adam [@GhostPanther] (February 19, 2019). "Join me in volunteering to help @BernieSanders secure the democratic nomination & become president. You don't have to give $, sweat is worth more. You'll have fun winning #MedicareForAll & stopping capitalist wars. Sign up" (Tweet). Retrieved February 21, 2019 – via Twitter.
  54. ^ McKay, Adam (November 3, 2017). "I consider myself a Democratic socialist. Always have". @ghostpanther.[non-primary source needed]
  55. ^ "Adam McKay Is Mad as Hell". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  56. ^ Sharf, Zack (March 27, 2022). "Adam McKay Shares 'Vice' Regret: 'I F—ed Up' by Not Blaming Democrats for Going Along With Iraq War". Variety. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  57. ^ "Artists4Ceasefire". Artists4Ceasefire. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  58. ^ Shafer, Ellise (November 6, 2024). "Adam McKay Says 'It Is Time to Abandon' the Democratic Party as Trump Declares Victory: 'I Thought Liberals' Whole Thing Is Being Smart? It's Not'". Variety. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  59. ^ Who is Just Stop Oil, the group that threw soup on Van Gogh's painting?, NPR, October 15, 2022, Archive
  60. ^ "Don't Look Up director Adam McKay to triple donations to Just Stop Oil". The Guardian. June 3, 2023.
  61. ^ "Yellow Dot Studios' Staci Roberts-Steele believes comedy can save our planet". www.variety.com. Variety. May 19, 2023.
  62. ^ "Film studio from Oscar-winning director aims to stir up 'populist anger' over climate crisis". The Guardian. March 9, 2024.
  63. ^ "Adam McKay launches nonprofit climate content studio Yellow Dot with debut video 'Commercial for Big Money' - Watch". Deadline Hollywood. Deadline. May 9, 2023.
  64. ^ "Adam McKay and Rainn Wilson release 'Game of Thrones' parody video for #ImWithScienceCampaign". www.variety.com. Variety. January 26, 2024.
  65. ^ "Adam McKay launches climate content studio Yellow Dot". www.hollywoodreporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter. March 9, 2023.
  66. ^ "'Don't Look Up' director Adam McKay wants to win the climate information war – with memes". The Independent. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  67. ^ Spangler, Todd (September 30, 2022). "Adam McKay's scathing fake Chevron ad blasting its role in climate change goes viral". Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  68. ^ "Adam McKay explains his made-you-look take on climate activism". www.rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. March 16, 2024.
  69. ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 11, 2024). "Adam McKay to produce IMAX Climate Crisis doc 'Stormbound'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  70. ^ "Don't Look Up director Adam McKay on choosing humour to tackle leaders' climate inaction". www.skynews.com. Sky News. February 22, 2022.
  71. ^ "Why our secret weapon against the climate crisis could be humour". www.theguardian.co.uk. The Guardian. June 13, 2022.
  72. ^ "'Don't Look Up' director Adam McKay talks comets, climate change and total disaster". www.space.com. Space.com. December 4, 2021.
  73. ^ "Adam McKay: 'Climate…scares me to my core". Channel4.com. Channel 4. March 4, 2022.
  74. ^ "Adam McKay: 1.5C is terrifying but there is something we haven't tried". levernews.com. The Lever. May 30, 2023.
  75. ^ "Telling the Storyteller's Tale" (PDF). Tremor Talk Magazine. September 2016.
  76. ^ Hagan, Joe (November 29, 2021). ""Who the Fuck Cares About Adam McKay?" (We Do, and With Good Reason)". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  77. ^ Kilpatrick, Connor (November 26, 2019). "Adam McKay Is Mad as Hell". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  78. ^ Sharf, Zack (November 29, 2018). "Adam McKay Had a Heart Attack and His 'Vice' Star Christian Bale Saved His Life". IndieWire. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  79. ^ "#347 - Adam McKay". Spotify - The Empire Film Podcast. January 19, 2019.
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