Back in April, we reported thatWill Ferrellhad agreed to star in and produceReagan, where the actor was to play U.S. PresidentRonald Reaganas he slips into dementia during his second term in the Oval Office. While we never heard any further updates on that project,Will Ferrelldropped out after the late President’s daughterPatti Daviscalled complained, calling Ferrell’s decision to appear a “heartless move”. While that project seems to be dead in the water, today we have word thatNicolas Cagemay playRonald Reaganin a much different movie about the former 80s President.
Page Sixreports thatNicolas Cagehas been offered the lead role ofRonald Reaganin a currently untitled project that will, “show the conservative president in a flattering light, infuriating the liberal Hollywood crowd.” This report didn’t have any further details on this project, but they did reach out toNicolas Cage’s publicist, who would only say that, “It’s way too early in the development process.”
It’s possible that this could be the sameRonald Reagan biopicthat has been in development for the past six years. Back in 2010, we reported that a project also entitledReagan, which was set up long before theWill Ferrellproject, will be based on two best-selling biographies of the 40th U.S. president byPaul Kengor, entitled “The Crusader” and “God and Ronald Reagan.” The adaptation was slated to begin with the 1981 assassination attempt and tells Reagan’s story through flashbacks and flash-forwards.
Reagan’s childhood is described as “a surreal Norman Rockwell painting with his alcoholic Catholic father, devout Christian mother, Catholic brother and ever-changing boarders the family took in”. ProducerMark Josephoptioned the books back in 2006, withJonas McCordwriting the screenplay adaptation.Sean McNamara(Spare Parts,Soul Surfer) came aboard to direct this project back in August, withCary-Hiroyuki Tagawasigning on to play Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone,Jon VoightplayingU.S. Secretary of StateGeorge P. Schultz andRobert Daviplaying Leonid Brezhnev, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
We don’t know for sure ifNicolas Cagewas offered a role in directorSean McNamara’sReagan, especially since the actor’s publicist stated the film was “too early in the development process,” when it seems this film is finally moving forward after years of development. However, the plot forReagandoes match up with this report.Nicolas Cagehas had a busy year, starring inThe TruthalongsideElijah Wood,Dog Eat DogwithWillem Dafoe,SnowdenwithJoseph Gordon-LevittandUSS Indianapolis: Men of CouragewithTom Sizemore. He will next be seen in directorSteven C. Miller’sArsenalalongsideJohn CusackandAdrian Grenier, which hits theaters August 09, 2025.
