Will Ferrell to Play Former President Ronald Reagan in New Movie
Ferrell and Reagan (Photo: Rex/Shutterstock)
By Justin Kroll, Variety
UPDATE: Will Ferrell’s rep announced on April 29 the actor will not play Ronald Reagan in the project based on the Black List script Reagan.
ORIGINAL POST: Having already famously portrayed former President George W. Bush in various comedy sketches, Will Ferrell is now setting his sights on another former commander in chief.
Sources tell Variety Ferrell is attached to star as President Ronald Reagan in the Black List script Reagan.
Penned by Mike Rosolio, the story 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.
The script was so popular following its announcement on the Black List, an annual catalog of the top unproduced scripts in Hollywood, that a live read was done recently done in March starring Lena Dunham and John Cho.
Ferrell will produce along with production banner Gary Sanchez Productions. The package currently is without a director but will soon be shopped to studios.
Ferrell is no stranger to political humor having portrayed former President Bush several times over the years on Saturday Night Live. He eventually took the impression to Broadway in the play You’re Welcome, America. He also starred in the political comedy The Campaign opposite Zach Galifianakis.
Best known for his live-action short films, Reagan marks Rosolio’s big-screen debut.
Rosolio is repped by UTA and Ferrell is repped by UTA and Mosaic.
