Adam McKay to Adapt and Direct Financial Crisis Best-Seller by ‘Moneyball’ Author Michael Lewis

Paramount and Brad Pitt’s Plan B Productions will produce the “Anchorman” director’s adaptation of “The Big Short”

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After satirizing the news business with a surreal comedy, Adam McKay will take a more hard-edged look at Wall Street.

Paramount announced on Monday that McKay, best known for his work as the writer/director of the “Anchorman” movies and other collaborations with Will Ferrell (including “SNL” and Funny or Die), will write and direct the big screen adaptation of Michael Lewis‘ best-selling non-fiction book, “The Big Short.”

Also read: Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Production Company Launches Division for Female-Driven Projects

The book dives into the unregulated bond and real estate derivative markets — and the traders who gamed them — that led to the massive bubble of the 2000s and eventual financial collapse.

Michael Lewis has the amazing ability to take complex formulas and concepts and turn them into page turners,” McKay said in a statement. “Plan B and I connected over that breathless quality the book has. Very excited to jump into this.”

Also read: Will Ferrell-Adam McKay’s ‘Bad Judge,’ With Kate Walsh, Gets NBC Pilot Order

McKay has long been outspoken about politics and economic issues, and is a fierce critic of the GOP and conservative financial policy. One look at his Twitter feed, even just from the last few days, displays as much:

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