Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova Adam McKay is Still Angry About 2008 from Against the Rules: The Big Short Companion
Oct 14, 2025
Adam McKay, the acclaimed director behind The Big Short, discusses his transformation from comedy to political film-making. He dives into the challenges of adapting complex financial concepts into engaging cinema and how humor plays a key role in making these topics accessible. McKay reveals the behind-the-scenes efforts to recruit star power, including Christian Bale and Brad Pitt, and reflects on the lingering anger over the 2008 financial crisis, giving the film a raw and urgent tone that resonates today.
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From SNL To Anchorman Breakthrough
- Adam McKay moved from SNL to making short films which convinced him he was a writer-director.
- Anchorman emerged after studios initially passed, then returned once the team refined the script and proved demand.
Comedy As Political Mask
- McKay built comedies with a hidden political or cultural critique beneath the laughs.
- He aimed for high stakes framing so the comedy reads as commentary on wider social issues.
Why The Big Short Hooked McKay
- McKay read The Big Short and couldn’t put it down, sensing both story and humor.
- He noted Lewis's direct addresses to confused readers and used that device cinematically.
