A producer tied to a controversial film about former President Ronald Reagan and Alzheimer's is defending himself against what he called a "scary" public response to the movie.
Adam McKay, who was a potential producer of the film,
told The Daily Beast his office received a lot of negative backlash.
"It was scary, man. There are some scary people out there who respond to stuff like that," McKay said. "There were scary messages left at our office. Stuff like, 'How dare you say anything bad about Ronald Reagan, you better watch your back.' Some very scary voicemails."
McKay was rumored to be a producer of the film and actor
Will Ferrell was reportedly considering playing Reagan. After the massive public outrage, Ferrell said he wasn't interested in the role.
McKay said people knew nothing of the script but still had a strong reaction.
"People hadn't even read the script, it was just three words: 'Reagan, Ferrell, Alzheimer's,' and it became this huge thing," McKay said.
"I kept saying when that story snowballed, 'Is there anyone who really thinks Will Ferrell would make a comedy about a horrible disease like Alzheimer's?' In a million years no one would do that! You'd have people on the left and right coming after you. I think it's more about the deification of Ronald Reagan, where you can't go near the subject of Ronald Reagan."
The Reagan family blasted the movie when it made headlines last month.
Newt Gingrich, a former House speaker who is reportedly on
Donald Trump's vice presidential short list, said the film would have been devastating to Ferrell's career.
"I think the very premise is idiotic and despicable,"
Gingrich told Variety. "I like Will Ferrell. I think he is a very funny guy, but I think this would have been an absolute disaster for his career."
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