Hollywood funny man Will Ferrell is set to star in an upcoming comedy about late US president Ronald Reagan's struggle with dementia. News of Ferrell's latest project garnered mixed reactions.

The script for the movie, written by Mike Rosolio, appeared on Hollywood's 2015 Black List, a collection of the most highly regarded scripts of the year that were not produced.

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There was also an outcry against the movie's sensitive subject matter. The Gipper's son, Michael Reagan, said in a tweet to all those involved with the production, "you should be ashamed [,] all of you."

Reagan's daughter Patti Davis wrote an open letter to Ferrell. Davis detailed her work with family members of those suffering from dementia, and asked the actor to "explain to them how this disease is suitable material for a comedy."

Ferrell's position regarding the disease is unclear. He is linked to fellow actor Seth Rogen's Hilarity for Charity, a foundation that raises money for the fight against Alzheimer's. Last October, Ferrell's production company, Funny or Die, hosted a live stream of James Franco's Bar Mitzvah, a Hilarity for Charity event.

The upcoming film titled Reagan, builds on the fictional premise of Reagan beginning to lose his faculties in his second term as president. An intern must convince Reagan, a former Hollywood star, that he is an actor portraying the president in a movie.

Reagan is still in the early stages of production, but actors Lena Dunham and John Cho participated in a live reading of the script. Dunham played speech writer Peggy Noonan, while Cho portrayed the intern tasked with fooling the president.

Another Ferrell company, Gary Sanchez Productions, will produce the movie. 

TagsWill Ferrell, ronald reagan, Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's charity, Reagan movie, Seth Rogen, James Franco's Bar Mitzvah