Will Ferrell to Play Ronald Reagan in New Film ‘Reagan’ (UPDATED: No He Won’t)

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UPDATE 4/29: A spokesperson for Will Ferrell released a statement that he is no longer pursuing this project, with media outlets speculating that Ferrell distanced himself from the project after outrage from Reagan’s family and various organizations.

Variety is reporting that Saturday Night Live alum Will Ferrell has been tapped to play former president Ronald Reagan in a new film by freshman director Mike Rosolio. The film, called Reagan, was a popular script featured on The Black List, a website that hosts some of the more talked-about screenplays in Hollywood that never found their way to the big screen.

Very little is known about the film, other than the short description that’s attached to it: “When Ronald Reagan falls into dementia at the start of his second term, an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the Commander in Chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie.”

That summary is very ambiguous, so it’s unclear whether the film will be a comedy, a drama, or somewhere in between. What is known is that the script has been beloved by many who have read it, so much so that it received a live table read last month, hosted by The Black List, featuring Chris Parnell, Nathan Fillion, John Cho, and Lena Dunham, among others.

While Rosolio has directed some short films in the past, this will be his first foray into big-time directing. Ferrell, however, at least has some experience acting presidential; the comedian is well known for his impression of former president George W. Bush on SNL (which landed him in Broadway’s You’re Welcome, America,) and he played a congressman in 2012’s The Campaign with Zach Galifianakis.

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Bill Tressler

Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.
Bill Tressler

Bill Tressler

Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.