WATCH: Will Ferrell Cast To Play This Iconic Republican President


One of Hollywood’s funniest men is set to play one of the Republicans’ most heralded icons. Will Ferrell has been cast as Ronald Reagan for an upcoming film about the 40th president’s second term.

According to Variety, who broke the story of the film, the script follows Reagan during the earliest onset of dementia as his condition was unknown to most. The fictional account involves an intern who must convince the former actor that he is playing a big screen role as President of the United States.

Soon after Ferrell’s casting was announced, several voices from the right began to speak out in outrage.

Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, penned an open letter to Ferrel to voice her concerns. It read, in part:

“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.”

Ferrell has made a career in Hollywood playing zany roles in films like “Anchorman,” “Step-Brothers,” and “Talladega Nights.” Those familiar with the script are calling it “a hilarious political satire.” It’ll likely continue to be a controversial project throughout production.

Many former presidents have been the subject of satirical portrayals by Hollywood.

But is the case of Reagan different? Does the fact that he may have been suffering from the earliest onset of dementia while in office make any comedic big screen rendering taboo?

Gary Moran of The American Thinker adds his pointed view supporting Patti Davis’ concerns:

“Just for the record, Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1994. While there have been several efforts over the years to “prove” Reagan was suffering from the disease while president, no one has been able to show he suffered from anything worse than hearing loss and the natural minor memory loss that accompanies old age. The idea that at the beginning of his second term he was suffering from dementia is a delibrate (sic) lie and nothing more than a cheap smear by leftists.”

As someone conservatives hold in such high esteem, second only to Jesus Christ, any attempt by Hollywood to tell a Reagan story would be met with expected doubt and cynicism. For his part, Ferrell has never been especially beloved by the Right especially with his uncanny (and well-timed) parodies of George W. Bush.

This film is one that should be highly anticipated, and ultimately, the verdict will be up to the audience.

Featured image is by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty.

Jeff is reformed conservative who is happy to be thinking for himself again. He's an aspiring author working on his first book. Follow #Brick_Says