One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Will Ferrell Pulls Out Of Ronald Reagan Movie After Outrage From Family
Will Ferrell at the Zoolander 2 premiere. (Jeff Spicer/ Getty)
On Wednesday, Variety reported that Will Ferrell would be portraying Ronald Reagan in Reagan, which he was also slated to produce. But following outcry from the Reagan family, who assumed the film would be a comedy, Ferrell has pulled out of the project.Reagan's son Michael, now president of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, tweeted:
Alheimers is not a comedy it robs you then it kills you @THR
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) April 28, 2016
#Alzheimers is not a comedy to the 5 million people who are suffering with the decease,it first robs you of your mind and then it kills you
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) April 29, 2016
Reagan's daughter Patti Davis wrote in a blog post:
Alzheimer’s doesn’t care if you are President of the United States or a dockworker. It steals what is most precious to a human being — memories, connections, the familiar landmarks of a lifetime that we all come to rely on to hold our place secure in this world and keep us linked to those we have come to know and love. I watched as fear invaded my father’s eyes — this man who was never afraid of anything. I heard his voice tremble as he stood in the living room and said, “I don’t know where I am.” I watched helplessly as he reached for memories, for words, that were suddenly out of reach and moving farther away. For ten long years he drifted — past the memories that marked his life, past all that was familiar…and mercifully, finally past the fear.
"There was laughter in those years, but there was never humor," she continued. "Perhaps for your comedy you would like to visit some dementia facilities. I have — I didn’t find anything comedic there, and my hope would be that if you’re a decent human being, you wouldn’t either."
But here's the thing: there was little other than Ferrell's reputation as a comedian that indicated that Reagan was itself a "comedy." Additionally, a live read of the script was performed last month featuring Lena Dunham and John Cho, two comedic actors. The plot of the film, according to Variety, follows Reagan's second term, as he falls into dementia. An intern must convince the president that he is an actor playing the president in a movie. This doesn't exactly scream "serious biopic," but Ferrell's reps said it wasn't a comedy either.
Sponsored message
A spokesman for Ferrell told Page Six, "The REAGAN script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered. While it is by no means an ‘Alzheimer’s comedy’ as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project."
Another source told Page Six, "It wasn’t a complete project because there was no financing, and no director attached. Will considered the movie, but ultimately decided not to do it." Ferrell's reps wouldn't confirm whether Ferrell pulled out because of the response from the Reagans. Either way, Michael is pleased with the news:
Thankyou for taking the right path.If u want to know more about the decease contact myself or Patti. https://t.co/GGAVV8fyoR
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) April 29, 2016
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
