Will Ferrell is well known for his George W. Bush impersonation, but reports that he will play another president have riled some people.
According to Variety, the former “SNL” cast member is set to star as President Ronald Reagan in the planned film “Reagan.” The publication reports that “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.”
But the comedy project is not going over well with some who take exception to such a portrayal of the former commander-in-chief, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in his later years. A tweet from an unverified Twitter account listed as belonging to President Reagan’s son Michael said, “What an Outrag….Alzheimers is not joke…It kills..You should be ashamed all of you.”
In addition to playing former President Bush in “SNL” skits, Ferrell appeared as Bush in the Broadway play “You’re Welcome America.” He also played a fictional candidate in the 2012 political comedy “The Campaign,” with Zach Galifianakis.
Variety reports that Ferrell will also produce “Reagan.”