'The Big Short' Featurette: Adam McKay Bets Against The American Economy

The Big Short is a slight change of pace for Adam McKay. The man behind Step Brothers, Talladega Nights, and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is taking on a more serious subject matter with his adaptation of Michael Lewis' nonfiction book. As serious as the housing crisis is, that doesn't mean McKay isn't bringing his outrageous sensibility to the film.

After the jump, watch a featurette for the director's newest picture.

McKay's buddy cop comedy, The Other Guys, dealt with the financial crisis, and the director has always been politically active, which is why, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he says The Big Short isn't too far outside of his comfort zone:

I've always been pretty politically active, and even when I was on SNL I used to write a lot of the political cold openers — that's always been a big part of who I am. But you'd have to ask them [about trepidation over me making the film]. I'm sure somebody had a moment of, "Really? The guy who did Talladega Nights is going to do this?" My big idea was to break the fourth wall, to talk to the audience periodically throughout the movie. If they were cool with that, then they were cool with what I was going to do.

The film was in the works at producer and co-star Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B. In this The Big Short featurette, actors Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling explain why McKay was the right director to tell this story.

The trailer and footage we've seen so far feature McKay's sense of humor. Is The Big Short an awards contender, though? It's not the most important thing in the world, but who wouldn't like to see the writer/director of Step Brothers get nominated for an Academy Award? I'm seeing the film tonight (a review will be posted on the site tomorrow), and I don't think it's crazy to assume McKay could score a nomination for writing, if the film itself is as funny and sharp as the trailer and this featurette makes it look.

Paramount also released a floating heads poster for the film, focused on the stars.

Here's the official synopsis for The Big Short:

When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball), and directed by Adam Mckay (Anchorman, Step Brothers) The Big Short stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.

The Big Short opens in limited release starting December 11 and rolls out nationwide starting December 23.