A new character emerges in the Adam McKay-Will Ferrell beef: Michael Shannon
McKay originally cast Boardwalk Empire star Michael Shannon as Jerry Buss before the actor dropped out

Michael Shannon has entered the chat.
Fresh off his latest Oscars nomination, Adam McKay is still doing damage control over his split from collaborator, muse, and star of his funny movies, Will Ferrell. Thus far, the story has been that Ferrell wanted the role of late Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss in McKay’s upcoming HBO series Winning Time, which tracks the rise of the Lakers basketball dynasty. Instead, however, McKay gave the role to their mutual friend and artistic partner, John C. Reilly. But that’s not the whole story.
Per The Hollywood Reporter’s fascinating behind the scenes look at the series, Michael Shannon, the furrow-browed, square-jawed dramatic actor known for roles in Knives Out and Boardwalk Empire, was initially cast as Buss. Shannon and McKay go way back, getting their start on improv stages in Chicago. But, as McKay puts it, “Will was good with it.”