Earlier this week, it was revealed that Will Ferrell was in talks to star as Ronald Reagan in a film called "Reagan," a political satire comedy that dealt with the president's Alzheimer disease. Now, Ferrell has backed out of the film and will not be moving forward with it after the film came under fire due to the nature of the movie.
Despite the rumors, Ferrell reportedly never officially signed on to the film, as the film had not yet secured a director, financing or a company to distribute the film.
"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," Ferrell's spokesperson said.
After news of Ferrell's possible involvement in the film broke, Reagan's daughter Patti Davis penned an open letter to Ferrell explaining why Alzheimer's was nothing to joke about and had no place in a comedy.
"I saw the news bulletin - as did everyone - that you intend to portray my father in the throes of Alzheimer's for a comedy that you are also producing. 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," she wrote.
"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,'" she continued.
Davis was not the only one to speak out against the film. The 40th president's son, Michael Reagan, took to his Twitter to express the outrage that he felt upon hearing the news.
"#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," he wrote.
After the news broke that Ferrell backed out of the film, the former first son again went on the social media site, but this time expressed his gratitude for the actor not being involved with the movie.
"Thank you for taking the right path. If u want to know more about the decease contact myself or Patti," he posted on Twitter.
