Will Ferrell Backs Out of Movie About Ronald Reagan's Struggle With Alzheimer's Disease

Actor Will Ferrell is well known for his comic depiction of American presidents like George W. Bush.

But when word got out that Ferrell was considering a script for a political comedy about President Ronald Reagan's struggle with Alzheimer's disease, many people were not laughing.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's mother, Betty Baker, has been suffering from Alzheimer's for 10 years.

"My mom was a vibrant, charming, wonderful, totally alive woman and it's just not funny, nothing funny about it," an emotional Baker said Friday.

Baker tweeted earlier Friday, "This is dismaying. Anyone who has family with Alzheimer's can tell you there is courage but no humor here… None."

President Reagan's son Michael was also tweeting. "Alzheimer's 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 said.

And from Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis, a blog post - an open letter to Farrell which 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."

By afternoon, Farrell responded to the New York Post's Page 6 through a spokesperson:

"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 a ‘Alzheimer’s comedy’ as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project.”

Baker was pleased to hear that Ferrell had changed his mind.

"He heard from a lot of people that pointed out to him that this is a terrible disease that just beats the crap out of your family and your family member and I'm glad that he chose not to make it," the governor said.

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