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REAGAN Will ‘Resonate’ — Cast and Crew Explain Why

Photo from REAGAN movie’s Instagram

REAGAN Will ‘Resonate’ — Cast and Crew Explain Why

By Movieguide® Contributor

The cast and crew of REAGAN are sharing what they learned while making the movie — and what they hope audiences take away. 

“From dusty small-town roots, to the glitter of Hollywood, and then on to commanding the world stage, REAGAN is a cinematic journey of overcoming the odds,” a description of the movie on its website reads. “Told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with Ronald Reagan’s when Reagan first caught the Soviets’ attention as an actor in Hollywood, this film offers a perspective as unique as it is captivating.”

REAGAN stars Dennis Quaid, Jon Voight, Penelope Ann Miller, Mina Suvari, David Henrie and Kevin Dillon.

Henrie, who plays a younger version of Reagan, told Movieguide® at the premiere that he learned Reagan’s father was an alcoholic. 

“I felt he always had a sympathetic or compassionate look in his eye and a sincere look in his eye,” he said. “I have no idea if this is the case, but there’s some alcoholism way back in my family, and I can understand how that could be a difficult situation and how that might create a sense of compassion.”

Henrie called the former president “such a sincere guy,” noting that the reason people loved him was because “he felt real.”

Singer Darci Lynne, who plays a small role in REAGAN, said she feels like “my generation is going to resonate with it.”

“I feel like it’s definitely family-friendly,” she continued. “Expect to laugh, expect to be shocked and expect to witness some incredible acting from Dennis Quaid, David Henrie, everybody.”

Howard Klausner, who wrote REAGAN’s script, spoke about what made Reagan such a compelling figure. 

“This guy loved people,” he said. “He loved his country. He loved his wife and his family. He loved God, and he loved the sense of mission that was bringing down the Berlin Wall. He was one of the most humble people that ever lived, always making fun of himself…he was just so comfortable in his own skin.”

Klausner concluded, “He had respect for everybody that ever crossed his path, whether they agreed with him or not…that’s what this movie is about.”

Quaid told the Hollywood Reporter that he was initially unsure about taking on the role. 

“I had a tinge of fear grow up my spine, and that’s usually a sign that I should do [a role] because it takes me out of my comfort zone,” the actor explained. “Fear is really very valuable. But I didn’t say yes right away because I wanted to make sure I could feel him and as a person instead of doing it impersonation. I went to the Reagan ranch and I could feel him up there. It was really quite something.”

Movieguide® previously reported on Quaid’s thoughts on the timeliness of REAGAN’s release:

Dennis Quaid revealed why he believes his upcoming Ronald Reagan biopic is pertinent to today and what he hopes audiences will gain from watching the movie.

“There’s a lot of interest in [the movie], and the times are very much like they were back in the late ’70s before Reagan came to office in 1980, you know. Iran had hostages, and there was the Soviet Union, and 90% [of Americans] thought there was going to be a nuclear war, interest rates — I remember, to buy a house, interest rates were 20%…there was this feeling of malaise in the country, like we were a declining nation that had a weak president,” Quaid told CBN.

“Reagan came along, and the day he took office, not two hours after he took the oath of office, Iran released the hostages because they didn’t want to deal with Reagan,” Quaid added. “They looked at his strength which made them fear him…he definitely won the Cold War. He was called a warmonger that he was going to get us into a nuclear conflict with the Soviets. He was called a cowboy, you know, he fixed the economy, it took a couple of years. He survived an assassination. The country came together and was united.”

REAGAN will premiere in theaters nationwide Aug. 30.