Editing Will Ferrell (section)

==Career==
=== 1994–2001: ''Saturday Night Live'' ===
Before joining The Groundlings, Ferrell's attempts at standup comedy had little success. He started in the advanced classes and grew to love improvisation. He realized he also liked to impersonate people, and one of his favorites was [[Harry Caray]], the [[Ford C. Frick Award|Hall of Fame]] baseball announcer. Soon he began to create original characters, and by 1994 he had joined The Groundlings. With fellow Groundlings member [[Chris Kattan]], he created the Butabi Brothers, who go out to dance clubs to try to pick up women but are constantly rejected. While taking classes, Ferrell got a job at an auction house via his friend Viveca Paulin. The job was ideal as it was flexible enough for him to audition and go to rehearsals while also being employed. By 1995 he was receiving small roles, including appearances in TV series ''[[Grace Under Fire]]'' and ''[[Living Single]]'', low-budget films such as ''[[A Bucket of Blood (1995 film)|A Bucket of Blood]]'', as well as commercials. One winter, he served as a mall Santa Claus.{{sfnp|Abbey|2007|pp=56–57}}

After SNL's decline in popularity in [[Saturday Night Live (season 20)|1994–1995]], and in need of new cast members for the next season, a producer saw ''The Groundlings'' and asked Ferrell, Kattan, and [[Cheri Oteri]] to audition for SNL's main producer, [[Lorne Michaels]].{{sfnp|Abbey|2007|p=58}} Ferrell joined ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in 1995 and left in 2002 after a seven-year tenure. He has hosted the show five times, thereby becoming a member of the show's [[List of Saturday Night Live guests#Five-Timers Club|Five Timers Club]].<ref name= "4thHostingReviewAV">{{cite news|last1=Perkins|first1=Dennis|title= Will Ferrell does what he can on an indifferently written ''Saturday Night Live''|url=https://www.avclub.com/will-ferrell-does-what-he-can-on-an-indifferently-writt-1822487552 |access-date= April 14, 2018|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=January 28, 2018}}</ref>

During his time on ''SNL'', Ferrell made a name for himself with his impersonations, which included US President [[George W. Bush]], [[Chicago Cubs]] announcer [[Harry Caray]], singer [[Robert Goulet]] ([[crooner|crooning]] [[a cappella]] pieces of music by [[Sisqó]], [[Baha Men]], and [[The Notorious B.I.G.]]), singer [[Neil Diamond]], ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'' host [[James Lipton]] (who favored Ferrell's impersonation), Massachusetts Senator [[Ted Kennedy]], United States Attorney General [[Janet Reno]], convicted Unabomber [[Ted Kaczynski]], game show host [[Alex Trebek]], fictitious private detective [[John Shaft]], professional wrestler [[Jesse Ventura]], US Vice President [[Al Gore]], Iraqi President [[Saddam Hussein]], and Cuban President [[Fidel Castro]].

His original characters included ''Morning Latte'' co-host Tom Wilkins, [[Mister Ed]] the Horse's twin brother Ned, fictional [[Blue Öyster Cult]] member Gene Frenkle (physically modeled after the band's vocalist [[Eric Bloom]]),{{citation needed| date= November 2019}} music teacher Marty Culp, cheerleader Craig Buchanan, Dale Sturtevant from ''Dissing Your Dog'', Hank of the [[Bill Brasky]] Buddies, David Leary from ''Dog Show'', angry and inattentive Dr. Beaman and [[night club]]ber Steve Butabi in sketches that were turned into a feature film in 1998's ''[[A Night at the Roxbury]]''. Although a one-shot character, one of Ferrell's most memorable ''SNL'' characters is Dale McGrew, a "highly patriotic" office worker who comes to work wearing a half t-shirt and [[short shorts]] that Ferrell improvised into a [[thong]] just before the skit aired live, leading to genuine laughter from the cast and guest host [[Seann William Scott]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Seann William Scott Looks Back on 'SNL's Classic "Patriotic Shorts" Sketch" |url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/04/seann-william-scott-looks-back-on-snls-classic-patriotic-shorts-sketch.html |work=Vulture |last=Wright |first=Meg |date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> Ferrell became the highest paid cast member of ''Saturday Night Live'' in 2001 with a season salary of $350,000.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/celebrity/package.jsp?name=celebrity/content/bsf_carreyvsfarrell |title=War of the Funnymen – Netscape Celebrity |website= compuserve.com |access-date= September 11, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101003054217/http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/celebrity/package.jsp?name=celebrity%2Fcontent%2Fbsf_carreyvsfarrell |archive-date=October 3, 2010 }}</ref> Ferrell returned to ''Saturday Night Live'' as a guest host on May 14, 2005; May 16, 2009; May 12, 2012; January 27, 2018, and November 23, 2019. For the first two hosting appearances, he reprised his role as Alex Trebek in the "[[Celebrity Jeopardy! (Saturday Night Live)|Celebrity Jeopardy]]" sketches. On the May 14 appearance, Ferrell reprised his role as Robert Goulet in a fake commercial advertising a series of [[ringtone]]s and, during the performance of the song "[[Little Sister (Queens of the Stone Age song)|Little Sister]]" by musical guests [[Queens of the Stone Age]], Ferrell came on stage playing the [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]].

=== 2002–2010: Film stardom ===
[[File:Will Ferrell LF adjusted.jpg|thumb|left|190px|Ferrell at the premiere of ''[[Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story]]'', December 2007]]
During his time on ''Saturday Night Live'', Ferrell appeared in several movies: ''[[Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery]]'' (1997), ''[[A Night at the Roxbury]]'' (1998), ''[[Superstar (1999 film)|Superstar]]'' (1999), ''[[The Ladies Man (2000 film)|The Ladies Man]]'' (2000), ''[[Dick (film)|Dick]]'' (1999), ''[[Drowning Mona]]'' (2000), ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]'' (1999), ''[[Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]'' (2001), and ''[[Zoolander]]'' (2001). His first starring role after his departure from ''Saturday Night Live'' was as Frank "The Tank" Richard in ''[[Old School (2003 film)|Old School]]'' (2003). The film "belongs to Mr. Ferrell," declared ''The New York Times'', which described how he "uses his hilarious, anxious zealotry to sell the part."<ref>{{cite news| last= Mitchell | first= Elvis | title= Never Too Late to Have an Adolescence| work= The New York Times | date= February 21, 2003 }}</ref> ''Old School'' was a success and Ferrell received an [[MTV Movie Awards]] nomination for Best Comedic Performance.

The title role in ''[[Elf (film)|Elf]]'' (2003) followed, as did another MTV Movie Awards nomination. Ferrell continued to land comedy roles in 2004 and 2005 in films such as ''[[Melinda and Melinda]]'', ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'', and ''[[Starsky & Hutch (film)|Starsky & Hutch]]'' earning himself a place among Hollywood's [[Frat Pack]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wloszczyna |first= Susan |url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-15-frat-pack_x.htm |title= Wilson and Vaughn: Leaders of the 'Frat Pack' |work=USA Today |date=June 15, 2004 |access-date=September 11, 2010}}</ref> In 2005, Ferrell earned {{Nowrap|$40 million}}.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lacey|last=Rose|url=http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/forbes/P147872.asp|title=The world's best-paid actors and actresses|work=Forbes|via=Moneycentral.msn.com|date=March 20, 2006|access-date=September 11, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100531193546/http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/forbes/p147872.asp|archive-date=May 31, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2006, Ferrell starred in ''[[Stranger than Fiction (2006 film)|Stranger Than Fiction]], [[Curious George (film)|Curious George]],'' and ''[[Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]]''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381971/fullcredits |title=Curious George (2006)|access-date=2024-05-28 |via=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/fullcredits |title=Stranger Than Fiction (2006)|access-date=2024-05-28 |via=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415306/fullcredits |title=Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)|access-date=2024-05-28 |via=IMDb}}</ref> Both received critical and box office success. Ferrell's performance in ''Stranger Than Fiction'' introduced audiences to the dramatic potential of Ferrell's acting talents, while ''Talladega Nights'' was his highest grossing live-action opening as of 2010 at $47&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=willferrell.htm&sort=gross&order=DESC&p=.htm|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=Will Ferrell Movie Box Office Results|access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref> On {{Nowrap|December 27}}, 2006, ''The Magazine'' named Ferrell as one of its three actors of the year in their 2006 year in review issue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wearethemagazine.com/0103/themagazine.htm |title=TheMagazine – Volume 1 Issue 3, December 27, 2006 |website= wearethemagazine.com |access-date=December 7, 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121103121605/http://www.wearethemagazine.com/0103/themagazine.htm |archive-date= November 3, 2012  }}</ref> A sequel to Anchorman, ''[[Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues]]'', was released in 2013.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/18205139|title=Will Ferrell's Anchorman 2 to begin filming in 2013|work=BBC|first=Chi Chi| last=Izundu|date=May 25, 2012 |access-date= May 25, 2011}}</ref>

In 2008, Ferrell starred in the movie ''[[Step Brothers (film)|Step Brothers]]'' with John C. Reilly. The movie also starred [[Adam Scott (actor)|Adam Scott]], [[Kathryn Hahn]], [[Mary Steenburgen]], and [[Richard Jenkins]]. It was directed by frequent Ferrell collaborator [[Adam McKay]], who was also a co-writer of the movie. The movie earned $128&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://the-numbers.com/movie/Step-Brothers#tab=summary| title=The Numbers | website= The-numbers.com|access-date= May 4, 2016}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews but has since become a [[cult classic]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.gq.com/story/step-brothers-is-10-years-old|title= Step Brothers Is 10 Years Old and Also Timeless|website= GQ|date= July 25, 2018|accessdate= July 31, 2023}}</ref> Chris Hewitt of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' praised the chemistry of two leads writing, "Ferrell and Reilly are a superb double-act, Reilly's cockiness meshing well with Ferrell's puppy dog innocence. They're fine separately, but when the two are together, be it during an extended fight scene with a bunch of kids, or a demented sleepwalking sequence, the movie is a blast."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/step-brothers-review/|title= Step Brothers Review|website= Empire|date= January 8, 2008|accessdate= July 31, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Will Ferrell as MegaMind by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|Ferrell dressed as Megamind at the 2010 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]]]
Ferrell is also known for his promotional appearances including acting as part of a pre-game video package for the Rose Bowl along with [[University of Texas at Austin]] alum [[Matthew McConaughey]]. Ferrell sang a song at the [[ESPY Awards]] in 2006 about [[Lance Armstrong]] and [[Neil Armstrong]]. He and John C. Reilly performed a spot during the 2008 ESPY Awards within which they made demands in order for them to appear at the ESPYs, such as asking [[Portland Trail Blazers]]' center [[Greg Oden]] to tuck them in at night and tell them stories of the old times or to bring back the Cold War so the Olympics can be interesting again. Ferrell has worked as a voice actor in several animated television programs and films, including his portrayal of Bob Oblong, a 1950s-style father with no arms or legs, in the short-lived animated television series ''[[The Oblongs]]'' which ran on [[The WB]] and [[Adult Swim]].

He has had several guest appearances on ''[[Family Guy]]'' where he played the Black Knight in "[[Mr. Saturday Knight]]", as well as Fat Greek Guy and Miles "Chatterbox" Musket in ''[[Fifteen Minutes of Shame]]''. He had a recurring cameo role as Bitch Hunter in the [[sitcom]] ''[[30 Rock (TV series)|30 Rock]]''. Ferrell also starred as Ted (a.k.a. [[The Man in the Yellow Hat]]) in the film ''[[Curious George (film)|Curious George]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002071/|title=Will Ferrell |website= IMDb|access-date=October 11, 2017}}</ref> and guest voiced on an episode of the FOX sitcom ''[[King of the Hill]]'' as a [[Political correctness|politically correct]] soccer coach. He voiced the title character in the 2010 [[DreamWorks Animation]] feature film ''[[Megamind]]'' (replacing both [[Robert Downey Jr.]], who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, and [[Ben Stiller]], who also turned down the role and was instead cast in a minor role as Bernard the curator) as well as President Business in ''[[The Lego Movie]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Beinart |first=Peter |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/02/-em-the-lego-movie-em-further-evidence-of-will-ferrells-subversive-genius/283739/ |title=The Lego Movie: Further Evidence of Will Ferrell's Subversive Genius – Noah Gittell |magazine= [[The Atlantic]] |date= February 12, 2014 |access-date= April 6, 2014}}</ref> released in 2014. He reprised the latter role in ''[[The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part]]'', released in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2019-01-26|title=The Lego Movie 2 Will Screen Two Weeks Early at Select Theaters|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-lego-movie-2-early-screenings/|date=24 January 2019|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204000817/https://www.cbr.com/the-lego-movie-2-early-screenings/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ferrell has presented numerous times at the [[Academy Awards]]. He sang a humorous song "Get Off the Stage" with [[Jack Black]] in [[76th Academy Awards|2004]] and sang a song about comedies being snubbed by the voters in favor of dramas John C. Reilly and Jack Black in [[79th Academy Awards|2007]]. Ferrell made his [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] debut taking on departing U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] in a one-man show called ''[[You're Welcome America|You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush]].'' The show started performances on {{Nowrap|January 20}}, 2009, in previews—Bush's final day in office—at the [[James Earl Jones Theatre|Cort Theatre]] and opened officially on {{Nowrap|February 1}}. The limited engagement played through {{Nowrap|March 15}}, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.broadway.com/shows/youre-welcome-america-a-final-night-with-george-w-bush/buzz/97774/will-ferrell-to-star-in-youre-welcome-america-a-final-night-with-george-w-bush-on-broadway/|title= Will Ferrell to Star in You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush on Broadway|website= Broadway.com|date= October 16, 2008|access-date= June 6, 2011}}</ref>

In May 2009, it was announced that Ferrell was in talks to star in a feature film, ''Neighborhood Watch'' (later ''[[The Watch (2012 film)|The Watch]]''), a comedy about an urbanite who moves to the suburbs and uncovers a conspiracy. In negotiations to direct was [[David Dobkin (director)|David Dobkin]], who gave Ferrell a cameo in ''[[Wedding Crashers]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Ferrell might join 'Neighborhood'|work=Variety|date=May 5, 2009|url= https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/will-ferrell-might-join-neighborhood-1118003236/|access-date=May 5, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509074625/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003236.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|archive-date=2009-05-09|first=Dave|last=McNary}}</ref> In August 2009, Ferrell decided not to do the film.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1= Markovitz |first1= Adam |title=Will Ferrell leaves Fox's 'Neighborhood Watch'| url= https://ew.com/article/2009/08/03/ferrell-neighborhood-watch|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date= June 28, 2016|date=August 3, 2009}}</ref>
Ferrell starred in the feature film ''[[Land of the Lost (film)|Land of the Lost]]'' (2009). It was a commercial and critical flop, earning {{Nowrap|$19 million}} on opening weekend—about two-thirds of what the studio expected.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Is America over Will Ferrell? | url= https://www.today.com/popculture/america-over-will-ferrell-wbna31156974 | last= Nashawaty | first=Chris |magazine= Entertainment Weekly | date=June 7, 2009 | access-date=June 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Down goes">{{cite web| title=Down goes Ferrell! Down goes Ferrell! |url=http://blog.redbox.com/redblog/2009/06/down-goes-farrell-down-goes-farrell.html |last=Peterseim |first=Locke |publisher=Redblog |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=June 9, 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090612062044/http://blog.redbox.com/redblog/2009/06/down-goes-farrell-down-goes-farrell.html |archive-date=June 12, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, he was the executive producer and star of ''[[The Other Guys]]'', a [[buddy cop]] film which also has an [[ensemble cast]] including [[Mark Wahlberg]], [[Eva Mendes]], [[Michael Keaton]], [[Steve Coogan]], [[Ray Stevenson (actor)|Ray Stevenson]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], and [[Dwayne Johnson]]. The film was a commercial success earning over $140&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite web| url= https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ferrellwahlberg2010.htm |title= 'The Other Guys' |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=December 7, 2012}}</ref> and was positively reviewed by critics.

=== 2011–2019: Career expansion ===
[[File:Will Ferrell Deauville 2014.jpg|thumb|170px|upright|Ferrell in 2014]]
Ferrell appeared in the 2011 music video for "[[Make Some Noise (Beastie Boys song)|Make Some Noise]]" by the [[Beastie Boys]], in the front of a limo playing a [[cowbell]]. He stars in ''[[Casa de Mi Padre]]'', a [[telenovela]] [[Parody|spoof]] comedy set in a ranch with Mexican stars [[Diego Luna]] and [[Gael García Bernal]]. The movie is told in melodramatic telenovela form and features [[English-language]] [[subtitles]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.latina.com/entertainment/movies/juno-star-michael-cera-takes-spanish-second-language|title="Juno" Star Michael Cera Takes Up Spanish as a Second Language| first= Lee |last= Hernandez| work=[[Latina magazine]]| date= February 11, 2011 |access-date= February 11, 2011}}</ref> He starred alongside [[Zach Galifianakis]] in the 2012 political comedy ''[[The Campaign (film)|The Campaign]]'', which garnered mediocre reviews and grossed $104&nbsp;million against a budget of $95&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=rivals.htm |title=The Campaign (2012) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date= November 22, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/27/campaign-review|title=The Campaign – review |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]| date=September 27, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref> Also in 2012, he appeared in the comedy ''[[Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie]]'' and starred as Armando Álvarez in the Spanish-language comedy ''[[Casa de Mi Padre]]'' which was directed by frequent collaborator [[Matt Piedmont]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ebiri|first1=Bilge|title=Movie Review: Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie Is Irreverent, Zany, and Sometime Boring |url=https://vulture.com/2012/03/movie-review-tim-and-erics-billion-dollar-movie-is-irreverant-zany-and-sometime-boring.html|website=Vulture|date=March 2, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Itzkoff|first1=Dave|title=The Universal Language of Will Ferrell| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/movies/will-ferrell-tackles-spanish-for-casa-de-mi-padre.html|newspaper= The New York Times |date=March 2, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref>

In a 2014 poll taken as part of a commemorative ''SNL'' feature on ''[[Grantland]]'', Ferrell was voted the best ''Saturday Night Live'' cast member of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-battle-for-the-best-snl-cast-member-winner-will-ferrell-phil-hartman/|title=The Battle for the Best 'SNL' Cast Member, Day 6 Results: There Can Be Only One, and He Is Will Ferrell| date=August 29, 2014| last= Greenwald| first=Andy| website=[[Grantland]].com |access-date=November 21, 2015}}</ref> On December 12, 2015, Ferrell appeared in the cold open of the show in character as George W. Bush.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-will-ferrells-george-w-bush-roast-gop-candidates-on-snl-20151213| title= Watch Will Ferrell's George W. Bush Roast GOP Candidates on 'SNL'|date=December 13, 2015 |last= Kreps| first= Daniel| magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date= May 2, 2016}}</ref> He reprised this role when he returned as host in 2018.

Ferrell and [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] drummer [[Chad Smith]], who have had a long-running joke feud over their similar appearance appeared on the May 22, 2014 episode of ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'' for a charity drum-off battle. Despite Smith clearly giving the better performance, Ferrell was named the winner and awarded a giant gold cowbell. Both were joined by Smith's Red Hot Chili Peppers bandmates for a performance of "[[Don't Fear the Reaper]]", with Ferrell playing cowbell.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chili-peppers-surprise-will-ferrell-chad-smith-drum-off-on-fallon-20140523|title=Chili Peppers Surprise Will Ferrell, Chad Smith Drum-Off on 'Fallon'| first= Jason |last= Newman| magazine= [[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 23, 2014 |access-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> On June 10, 2014, Ferrell and Smith challenged [[Metallica]] drummer [[Lars Ulrich]] to a drum-off with Ferrell, saying Ulrich looks "eerily similar" to the two of them.<ref>{{cite magazine| url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/will-ferrell-and-chad-smiths-next-drum-off-target-lars-ulrich-20140610|title=Will Ferrell and Chad Smith's Next Drum-Off Target: Lars Ulrich |first=Kory| last= Grow| magazine= Rolling Stone |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> Ulrich accepted the challenge two days later.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.spin.com/2014/06/lars-ulrich-accepts-will-ferrell-chad-smith-drum-off-challenge/|title=Lars Ulrich Accepts Will Ferrell and Chad Smith's Drum-Off Challenge|work=[[Spin (magazine)|SPIN]] |date=June 12, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, he starred in the buddy comedy ''[[Get Hard]]'' and the comedy ''[[Daddy's Home (film)|Daddy's Home]]'', with the latter reuniting him and ''The Other Guys'' co-star Mark Wahlberg.<ref>{{cite web| last1=Chang|first1=Justin|title=SXSW Film Review: 'Get Hard'| url= https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/sxsw-film-review-will-ferrell-kevin-hart-in-get-hard-1201454027/|work=Variety|date=March 17, 2015|access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1= Puchko|first1=Kristy|title=Will Ferrell And Mark Wahlberg Looking To Reteam For Daddy's Home| url= https://cinemablend.com/new/Ferrell-Mark-Wahlberg-Looking-Reteam-Daddy-Home-43333.html| website= Cinemablend|date=June 5, 2014| access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref> He reprised his role, Jacobim Mugatu, in the ''Zoolander'' sequel, ''[[Zoolander 2]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Opan|first1=Kwame|title=The first full trailer for Zoolander 2 shows the return of Mugatu| url= https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/18/9754238/zoolander-2-trailer-ben-stiller-owen-wilson-will-ferrell|website=[[The Verge]]|date=November 18, 2015|access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref>  He then reprised his character from Daddy's Home in the sequel, ''[[Daddy's Home 2]]'' (2017).

In 2014, Ferrell filmed a role for the comedy-drama ''[[Zeroville (film)|Zeroville]]'', based on the [[Zeroville|novel of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web| last1= Han| first1=Angie|title=James Franco's 'Zeroville' Casts Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell and More |url= https://slashfilm.com/james-franco-zeroville-casting/|website=Slash Film| date=October 24, 2014| access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref><ref name=onlocationvacations>{{cite news|title=James Franco's 'Zeroville' begins filming in L.A.|url=http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2014/10/24/james-francos-zeroville-begins-filming-in-l-a/|access-date=December 8, 2023|publisher=onlocationvacations.com|date=October 24, 2014|archive-date=November 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101205719/http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2014/10/24/james-francos-zeroville-begins-filming-in-l-a/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's release was delayed until 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/zeroville-trailer-james-franco-megan-fox-seth-rogen-steve-erickson-novel/|title='Zeroville' Trailer: James Franco Movie (Finally) Gets Its Hollywood Close-Up|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=August 15, 2019|access-date=December 8, 2023|archive-date=August 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815190325/https://deadline.com/video/zeroville-trailer-james-franco-megan-fox-seth-rogen-steve-erickson-novel/|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2014, Ferrell signed on to portray director [[Russ Meyer]] in ''Russ and Roger Go Beyond'', a comedic biopic documenting the making of ''[[Beyond the Valley of the Dolls]]'', alongside [[Josh Gad]] as [[Roger Ebert]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Whitney|first1=Erin|title=Josh Gad Will Play Roger Ebert in Will Ferrell Comedy|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/entry/josh-gad-roger-ebert_us_55e6e6eae4b0aec9f3552030|website=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=September 2, 2015| access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref><ref name="indiewire.com">{{cite web|last1=Sharf|first1=Zack|title=Will Ferrell's Roger Ebert Movie Is Officially Dead: 'Russ & Roger' Producer Explains the Reason Why|url= https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/will-ferrell-roger-ebert-movie-dead-producer-explains-russ-meyer-1201981078/|website=[[IndieWire]]|date=July 4, 2018| access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> In 2018, prior to filming, the project was cancelled due to the recent [[MeToo movement|#MeToo movement]] and Meyer's association with [[sexploitation film]]making.<ref name="indiewire.com"/>

In February 2019, Ferrell launched ''The Ron Burgundy Podcast''  in collaboration with the [[IHeartRadio|iHeart Radio]] Podcast Network.  The show was originally slated for two seasons of twelve episodes each.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=2018-12-03 |title=Will Ferrell to Revive 'Anchorman' Character With 'Ron Burgundy Podcast' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/will-ferrell-revive-anchorman-character-ron-burgundy-podcast-1165905/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In 2022, the podcast was renewed for a fifth live season.<ref name="insideradio.com">{{Cite web |title=Will Ferrell Takes 'Ron Burgundy Podcast' Live; His Network Is Launching Two More Shows. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/will-ferrell-takes-ron-burgundy-podcast-live-his-network-is-launching-two-more-shows/article_d34a7784-ac7d-11ec-825c-8f74881c2420.html |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=Insideradio.com |date=March 25, 2022}}</ref> In October 2019, Ferrell partnered with iHeart Radio to launch his own podcast network, the Big Money Players Network.<ref name="insideradio.com" /> The partnership deal included 10 scripted and unscripted comedy podcasts set to be released over a two-year period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Will Ferrell partners with iHeartMedia to launch new podcast company |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2019/10/15/Will-Ferrell-partners-with-iHeartMedia-to-launch-new-podcast-company/5431571157392/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=UPI}}</ref>

=== 2020–present ===
In 2020 Ferrell starred alongside [[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]] in the remake of the 2014 Swedish film ''[[Force Majeure (film)|Force Majeure]]'', entitled ''[[Downhill (2020 film)|Downhill]]'' which was directed by [[Nat Faxon]] and [[Jim Rash]]. That same year he starred in the musical comedy film ''[[Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga]]'' with [[Rachel McAdams]]. In 2022 he starred in the [[Apple TV+]] musical comedy film ''[[Spirited (film)|Spirited]]'' with [[Ryan Reynolds]]. He also served as the film's producer. The next year he played the CEO of [[Mattel]] in [[Greta Gerwig]]'s comedy film ''[[Barbie (film)|Barbie]]'' (2023) starring [[Margot Robbie]] and [[Ryan Gosling]]; the same year he produced and starred in the film ''[[Quiz Lady]]''. In 2024, Ferrell co-starred in a [[Netflix]] documentary ''[[Will & Harper]]'', where Ferrell joins his best friend Harper Steele, who had recently come out to him a [[trans woman]]. The two take a road trip to rediscover each other.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title='Will & Harper' Trailer: Will Ferrell's Best Friend Came Out as Transgender, So They Took a Road Trip to Rediscover Each Other |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/harper-trailer-ferrell-best-friend-141217083.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref>