Will Ferrell Drops Out of Comedy 'Captain Dad' Days Before Shooting (Exclusive)

The move comes days before shooting was set to begin on the film that also stars Michael Cera and Catherine Keener.

Just days before production was set to begin, Will Ferrell has dropped out of the indie comedy Captain Dad.

The film, which also is set to star Michael Cera and Catherine Keener, was scheduled to begin production Sept. 26 in and around Cartegena, Colombia. Ferrell's last-second exit has left director Sebastian Silva and the producers scrambling. Several of the cast and crew already are in Colombia awaiting word on the project's future.

In a twist of life imitating art, Captain Dad chronicles a family vacation gone awry when the plans break down. Silva also wrote the screenplay.

It is unclear if producers Anne Carey, Bingo Gubelmann, Benji Kohn and Austin Stark can get the film back on track given the prominence of Ferrell's character (he plays the titular dad). Sources fear the project could fall apart. But a representative for the film said producers are working quickly to fill the role and should be moving forward with production soon.

Protagonist Pictures is selling the film in international territories. UTA, which reps Ferrell and Silva, is repping domestic rights.

UTA declined to comment.