If it looked as though the White House had come calling for Will Ferrell, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed those initial reports that the actor and all round funnyman was in line to step into the Oval Office as Ronald Reagan may have, er, escalated quickly.
It’s now understood that Ferrell, who is no stranger to portraying past presidents thanks to his comedy sketches featuring a cartoonish George W. Bush, is no longer pursuing the long-gestating comedy, itself based on a Black List script penned by Mike Rosolio. An official statement from the actor’s representative reads as follows:
“The Reagan script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered,” his spokesface tells THR. “While it is by no means an ‘Alzheimers comedy’ as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project.”
Toeing the line between comedy and heartfelt drama,...
It’s now understood that Ferrell, who is no stranger to portraying past presidents thanks to his comedy sketches featuring a cartoonish George W. Bush, is no longer pursuing the long-gestating comedy, itself based on a Black List script penned by Mike Rosolio. An official statement from the actor’s representative reads as follows:
“The Reagan script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered,” his spokesface tells THR. “While it is by no means an ‘Alzheimers comedy’ as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project.”
Toeing the line between comedy and heartfelt drama,...
- 5/2/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Well, that didn’t take long. Will Ferrell has dropped out of the Ronald Reagan comedy about the president battling Alzheimer’s while in office. It was announced on Wednesday that Ferrell would be appearing in an untitled comedy about Ronald Reagan from a script written by Michael Rosolio. However, after backlash from Reagan’s family and critics of the film's premise, Ferrell has backed out of the project. According to The Wrap, Will Ferrell is no longer attached to what had been described as a comedy about the former President succumbing to Alzheimer’s during his time in office. Will Ferrell was going to produce the film under his Gary Sanchez Productions banner and there was no word on a director or any other cast. The actor’s reps had this to say about the decision to back out of the project. & ...
- 4/29/2016
- cinemablend.com
His comedy can get pretty raunchy, but even Will Ferrell knows it’s wrong to mock somebody with Alzheimer’s- even if it is one of the most conservative Presidents in the history of the USA.
The “Zoolander” star has decided not to take the lead role in the forthcoming “Regan” project, said to be a comedy about former President Ronald Regan’s struggle with the debilitating disease and his eventual belief that he was an actor playing the President in a movie.
A rep for Ferrell told press, “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 a ‘Alzheimer’s comedy’ as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project.”
According to the late President’s daughter Patti Davis, “There’s nothing funny about Alzheimer’s. It is terrifying...
The “Zoolander” star has decided not to take the lead role in the forthcoming “Regan” project, said to be a comedy about former President Ronald Regan’s struggle with the debilitating disease and his eventual belief that he was an actor playing the President in a movie.
A rep for Ferrell told press, “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 a ‘Alzheimer’s comedy’ as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project.”
According to the late President’s daughter Patti Davis, “There’s nothing funny about Alzheimer’s. It is terrifying...
- 4/29/2016
- GossipCenter
The comedian turned down the role of playing the former president in a comedy about his dementia two days after it was announced that he would star
Two days after it was announced that Will Ferrell was set to play Ronald Reagan in a comedy that makes light the former Us president’s affliction with Alzheimer’s, the comedian has backed out of the project altogether following outrage from the former president’s family.
On Wednesday, Variety reported that Ferrell was attached to star in and produce Reagan, a new comedy from writer Mike Rosolio, which begins at the start of the then-president’s second term when he begins to show symptoms of dementia. The plot centers on an intern, charged with convincing the commander-in-chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie.
Continue reading...
Two days after it was announced that Will Ferrell was set to play Ronald Reagan in a comedy that makes light the former Us president’s affliction with Alzheimer’s, the comedian has backed out of the project altogether following outrage from the former president’s family.
On Wednesday, Variety reported that Ferrell was attached to star in and produce Reagan, a new comedy from writer Mike Rosolio, which begins at the start of the then-president’s second term when he begins to show symptoms of dementia. The plot centers on an intern, charged with convincing the commander-in-chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie.
Continue reading...
- 4/29/2016
- by Nigel M Smith
- The Guardian - Film News
Will Ferrell has backed out of plans to star in a feature comedy that depicts Ronald Reagan's dementia.
The comedian was in talks to play the former president in a political satire that dealt with Reagan's Alzheimer's condition. Mike Rosolio's script, which was on the 2015 Black List, follows an ambitious intern tasked with convincing the Commander-In-Chief that he is an actor playing the President in a movie.
Following reports that Ferrell was involved in the project, Reagan's daughter Patti Davis penned an open letter to Ferrell saying: "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. 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.
The comedian was in talks to play the former president in a political satire that dealt with Reagan's Alzheimer's condition. Mike Rosolio's script, which was on the 2015 Black List, follows an ambitious intern tasked with convincing the Commander-In-Chief that he is an actor playing the President in a movie.
Following reports that Ferrell was involved in the project, Reagan's daughter Patti Davis penned an open letter to Ferrell saying: "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. 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.
- 4/29/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Update (4/29/16, 3:30 Pm Et): In response to a request for comment on Reagan, Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Harry Johns has released a statement regarding the project. Here it is in full: “The Alzheimer’s Association is appalled that anyone would plan to develop a film that satirizes an individual living with Alzheimer's or another dementia. Would filmmakers consider using a fatal form of cancer or another deadly disease for comedy? It's time to stop this forever. “The idea that a film depicting President Ronald Reagan’s Alzheimer’s, or anyone with dementia, as a comedic device is offensive. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease, and their 15 million family caregivers provide support every day. This disease is not a joke. In addition to its devastating impact, it is fatal. The Alzheimer’s Association will rally against anyone who marginalizes the devastating and deadly impact of Alzheimer’s disease.
- 4/29/2016
- by Chris Eggertsen
- Hitfix
Update: Page Six has learned that Reagan is no longer on Will Ferrell’s docket, and there’s a chance it may never have been. A representative 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 […]
The post Will Ferrell Not Starring in Presidential Comedy ‘Reagan’ After All [Updated] appeared first on /Film.
The post Will Ferrell Not Starring in Presidential Comedy ‘Reagan’ After All [Updated] appeared first on /Film.
- 4/29/2016
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
The actor who played George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live and on Broadway will not be playing Ronald Reagan on the big screen – in fact, he never was formally signed on to do so. “The Reagan script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered," said a spokesman for the Emmy nominee. "While it is by no means an 'Alzheimer's comedy,’ as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project.” The news comes a day after…...
- 4/29/2016
- Deadline
Will Ferrell, who memorably played George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live, is slated to play Ronald Reagan in a new comedy – but the former U.S. president’s kids are less than enthusiastic about the project. Ronald Reagan Movie Ferrell has been tapped to play Reagan towards the end of his presidency and in the […]
The post Will Ferrell To Play Ronald Reagan In New Comedy; Former President’s Children Incensed appeared first on uInterview.
The post Will Ferrell To Play Ronald Reagan In New Comedy; Former President’s Children Incensed appeared first on uInterview.
- 4/29/2016
- by Chelsea Regan
- Uinterview
Will Ferrell is no longer attached to a forthcoming comedy about late President Ronald Reagan, TheWrap has learned. The untitled Black List script, previously billed as a comedy about Reagan succumbing to Alzheimer’s-induced dementia while in office, had Ferrell attached as recently as Wednesday, but that is no longer the case. “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,” a rep for Ferrell said Friday.
- 4/29/2016
- by Matt Donnelly
- The Wrap
News that Will Ferrell optioned Reagan as a starring vehicle — it's a spec comedy script in which a dementia-addled Ronald Reagan is led to believe he's an actor playing the president — has set off a firestorm of controversy. The project has drawn condemnation from Reagan's children Patti Davis and Michael Reagan, who called the movie "cruel" and cautioned that "Alzheimer's isn't a joke," as well as the Alzheimer's Association, who are "appalled" at the comedy's premise. On Friday, not 24 hours after the story broke, Ferrell announced that he had scuttled the project, with a rep saying, "While it is
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- 4/29/2016
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Will Ferrell has backed out of a planned comedy that depicted Ronald Reagan's dementia. The comedian was in talks to play the former president in a political satire that dealt with Reagan's Alzheimer’s condition, but will no longer be moving forward with the project amid the ensuing controversy. Ferrell's spokesperson said that he was never officially attached: "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 'Alzheimers comedy' as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project." The logline
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- 4/29/2016
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Reagan: Will Ferrell will star as President Ronald Reagan in Reagan, a comedy. Mike Rosolio wrote the script, which suggests that Reagan developed dementia during his second term of office and had to be convinced by an "ambitious intern" that he's "an actor playing the president in a movie." The real-life Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994. Ferrell previously played President George W. Bush on numerous Saturday Night Live sketches as well as a stage production. [Variety] Iron Man 4: As recently as last month, Robert Downey Jr. indicated that he would not be starring in another solo Iron Man movie, instead describing Captain America: Civil War as "my little Iron Man 4." That echoed earlier comments he had made as...
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- 4/28/2016
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
Will Ferrell has signed on to play Ronald Reagan in the film Reagan.
Mike Rosolio wrote the blacklisted script, which follows the former president "at the start of his second term when he falls into dementia and an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie."
Sounds like it's right in Ferrell's wheelhouse, but may also offer a bit of a departure for the actor, who seems to like political humor.
Ferrell will produce along with his Gary Sanchez Productions banner. The film is being shopped to studios, and is on he search for a director.
Don't forget to share this post on your Facebook wall and with your Twitter followers!
Source: Variety...
Mike Rosolio wrote the blacklisted script, which follows the former president "at the start of his second term when he falls into dementia and an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie."
Sounds like it's right in Ferrell's wheelhouse, but may also offer a bit of a departure for the actor, who seems to like political humor.
Ferrell will produce along with his Gary Sanchez Productions banner. The film is being shopped to studios, and is on he search for a director.
Don't forget to share this post on your Facebook wall and with your Twitter followers!
Source: Variety...
- 4/28/2016
- by Philip Sticco
- LRMonline.com
Hail to the chief. Will Ferrell is set to star as former president Ronald Reagan. The actor, 48, will portray the 40th president of the United States in the upcoming film Reagan, a Black List script written by Mike Rosolio, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The story takes place during the beginning of President Reagan's second term. In the movie he "falls into dementia," according to the Black List, an annual survey of notable new screenplays, reports THR. "An ambitious intern" is then "tasked with convincing the commander-in-chief that he is an actor playing the President in a movie." In...
- 4/27/2016
- by Mariah Haas
- PEOPLE.com
Hail to the chief. Will Ferrell is set to star as former president Ronald Reagan. The actor, 48, will portray the 40th president of the United States in the upcoming film Reagan, a Black List script written by Mike Rosolio, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The story takes place during the beginning of President Reagan's second term. In the movie he "falls into dementia," according to the Black List, an annual survey of notable new screenplays, reports THR. "An ambitious intern" is then "tasked with convincing the commander-in-chief that he is an actor playing the President in a movie." In...
- 4/27/2016
- by Mariah Haas
- PEOPLE.com
Will Ferrell is in line to walk Washington D.C.’s corridors of power as former President of the United States Ronald Reagan, according to Variety.
The Zoolander 2 actor, who will be remaining in the Republican party after portraying George W. Bush across numerous sketch shows, will also produce the presidential project via his Gary Sanchez Productions banner. Based on a Black List script first pitched by Mike Rosolio, Reagan opens during “the beginning of the ex-president’s second term when he falls into dementia and an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie.”
It makes for quite the meta setup, and exactly the kind of balance between drama and comedy that Ferrell often nails. Alas, at least at the time of writing, no director is currently attached to Reagan, though don’t expect that...
The Zoolander 2 actor, who will be remaining in the Republican party after portraying George W. Bush across numerous sketch shows, will also produce the presidential project via his Gary Sanchez Productions banner. Based on a Black List script first pitched by Mike Rosolio, Reagan opens during “the beginning of the ex-president’s second term when he falls into dementia and an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie.”
It makes for quite the meta setup, and exactly the kind of balance between drama and comedy that Ferrell often nails. Alas, at least at the time of writing, no director is currently attached to Reagan, though don’t expect that...
- 4/27/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Will Ferrell famously played former President George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live and in his HBO special You're Welcome America, and now Variety reports that the actor will be suiting up as a different former Commander in Chief: he'll be portraying Ronald Reagan in a new film called Reagan.
But this isn't just some run-of-the-mill biopic. Mike Rosolio's screenplay — which has earned a lot of attention and ended up on The Black List of the year's best unproduced scripts — "begins at the start of the ex-president’s second term when he falls into dementia and an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie." Whoa. Sounds like it has the potential to be either darkly funny or sad and serious.
Ferrell is obviously well known for his comedic talents, but he's also proven to...
But this isn't just some run-of-the-mill biopic. Mike Rosolio's screenplay — which has earned a lot of attention and ended up on The Black List of the year's best unproduced scripts — "begins at the start of the ex-president’s second term when he falls into dementia and an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie." Whoa. Sounds like it has the potential to be either darkly funny or sad and serious.
Ferrell is obviously well known for his comedic talents, but he's also proven to...
- 4/27/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Will Ferrell will play President Ronald Reagan in “Reagan,” a political satire written by Mike Rosolio, whose script was voted to the 2015 Black List of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays. Ferrell will produce under his Gary Sanchez Productions banner. The funnyman is no stranger to political comedies, having starred in “The Campaign” and “Dick.” He also played President George W. Bush on “Saturday Night Live” and the Broadway show “You’re Welcome America.” There’s no director attached to “Reagan” yet, but the project has become a priority for Gary Sanchez. Also Read: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg to Star in 'Daddy's Home 2' Set at.
- 4/27/2016
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
He's played George W. Bush in various comedy sketches, now comedian Will Ferrell is setting his sights on playing President Ronald Reagan in the Black List script "Reagan."
Mike Rosolio penned the script which begins at the start of the ex-president's second term when he falls into dementia. An ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie.
The script proved so popular that a live read was done recently starring Lena Dunham and John Cho. Ferrell will produce the film, but no director is yet attached.
Source: Variety...
Mike Rosolio penned the script which begins at the start of the ex-president's second term when he falls into dementia. An ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie.
The script proved so popular that a live read was done recently starring Lena Dunham and John Cho. Ferrell will produce the film, but no director is yet attached.
Source: Variety...
- 4/27/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Will Ferrell is feeling presidential. The comedic actor, who has already portrayed President George W. Bush in skits and onstage, has set his sights on another Republican, President Ronald Reagan. Ferrell is attached to star in and produce Reagan, a Black List script by Mike Rosolio, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Ferrell will produce via his production banner Gary Sanchez Productions. No director is on board but the project is being packaged in order to be shopped. The logline, via the Black List, describes the story thusly: “When Ronald Reagan falls into dementia at the start of his second term,
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- 4/27/2016
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: When Lena Dunham joined the cast of the live reading of The Black List script Reagan, we joked that fictional President portrayer Martin Sheen should get on board. Well, looks like that West Wing Potus isn't joining the March 5 performance of the Mike Rosolio written project but two other small screen Commander-in-Chiefs are. Scandal's Tony Goldwyn and 24 alum Dennis Haysbert will both be on stage next month at the Montalban Theater in Hollywood, I've…...
- 2/23/2016
- Deadline
In the script for Mike Rosolio's debut feature, selected for the influential Black List of unproduced screenplays late last year, an ambitious intern must convince President Reagan — grappling with dementia in his second term — that he's an actor playing the commander in chief in a movie. Now, as befits the irreverence of "Reagan," vocal Hillary Clinton surrogate Lena Dunham will give voice to Reagan speechwriter and conservative columnist Peggy Noonan at an upcoming live read, which amounts to some truly epic trolling. Read More: "The Black List Unveils the Best Unproduced Screenplays of 2015 (Full List)" Dunham, whose HBO series "Girls" returns for its penultimate season Sunday night, will be joined by John Cho and additional, to-be-announced cast members for the reading, directed by Rosolio (NBC's "Sean Saves the World") and set to take place at Hollywood's Montalban Theater on March 5. (Buy tickets here.) Dunham recently...
- 2/16/2016
- by Matt Brennan
- Thompson on Hollywood
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