Will Ferrell Will NOT Star In Ronald Reagan Comedy

It seems reports that Will Ferrell was set to portray deceased former US President Ronald Reagan were a little premature.

Ferrell’s representatives say that the actor and producer never signed on to star in the controversial project ‘Reagan,’ and has no intention of doing so.

In a statement published by Deadline, a spokesperson for the comedy star explains, “The Reagan script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered,” but stresses, “Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project.”

However, while distancing themselves from the project, Ferrell’s people do defend the script, which they insist is “by no means an ‘Alzheimer’s comedy,’ as has been suggested.”

Written by Mike Rosolio, ‘Reagan’ is reportedly set after the former actor’s re-election to the presidency in 1984, and as he is struggling with dementia, a White House intern is instructed to make him believe he’s playing the President in a movie.

Rosolio’s script had been named on the prestigious Black List, an annual Hollywood insider list of the best original, unproduced screenplays in town.

However, reports of Ferrell’s attachment were met with outrage by the former President’s children, in the belief that the film would make a joke out of their father’s years suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Reagan’s daughter Patti Davis stated in an open letter to Ferrell, “Perhaps you have managed to retain some ignorance about Alzheimer’s and other versions of dementia. Perhaps if you knew more, you would not find the subject humorous.”

One audience member at a public reading of the script complained that it “makes light of Alzheimer’s and undercuts President Reagan’s accomplishments in his second term.”

As Will Ferrell has officially denied any connection to the project, ‘Reagan’ has no director, producer or studio attached at present.

Picture Credit: NBC/WENN

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