Fate of Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig’s Lifetime movie up in the air

It is the most meta of meta comedic ideas: a Lifetime movie that spoofs Lifetime movies. But now the project’s fate appears to be in crisis.

On Wednesday, the Hollywood Reporter announced that comedians Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig had teamed up for a thriller called “A Deadly Adoption” — in which the pair would play a well-to-do couple who shelter a pregnant woman whose baby they intend to adopt. Naturally, all kinds of melodrama ensues.

The Hollywood Reporter’s story stated that the picture had already been filmed and that it was executive produced by Ferrell and Adam McKay, of Gary Sanchez Productions.

But Ferrell told Entertainment Weekly on Thursday that now the cat’s out of the bag, he and Wiig plan on pulling the plug on the project.

“We are deeply disappointed that our planned top secret project was made public,” Ferrell told the magazine in a statement. “Kristen and I have decided it is in the best interest for everyone to forego the project entirely, and we thank Lifetime and all the people who were ready to help us make this film.”

Lifetime, in the meantime, hasn’t issued a clear verdict on what might happen with the film — or what stage of production (if any) it might be in.

“We are disappointed that our secret project with Will and Kristen was leaked and the network is determining the fate of the movie,” Michael Feeney, spokesman for Lifetime’s corporate parent, A&E Networks, told the Associated Press on Friday.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film was to have marked the 25th anniversary of the network, which is known for churning out so-bad-they’re-good dramas and reality shows such as “Dance Moms.” Jessica Lowndes, formerly of “90210” was to have played the pregnant woman.