The comedy website Funny or Die has released a surprise 50-minute film about the controversial businessman turned politician Donald Trump in the wake of his victory in the New Hampshire primary.
Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie, which was made for the site co-founded by Will Ferrell, stars Johnny Depp in the central role with support provided by Ron Howard, Alfred Molina and Christopher Lloyd. It takes its title from the controversial businessman turned politician’s 1987 best-seller. The spoof is pitched as a TV movie, made by Trump, to illuminate his road to success and provide tips for others to follow.
“It was a crazy, completely nuts idea that somehow we pulled off,” Adam McKay, another of the site’s co-founders, told the New York Times. McKay has been nominated in the best director at the forthcoming Oscar’s for his financial comedy The Big Short.
Depp reportedly spent four days in December making the film after being approached by McKay earlier in the year. Funny or Die’s editor in chief, Owen Burke, described Depp’s performance “absolutely bananas” and explained that keeping the film secret was surprisingly easy.
“We had a few people sign non-disclosures, but mostly we just begged people not to say anything,” Burke said. “The plan was to move really fast because we thought Trump would go away, as least as a presidential candidate. When he bizarrely didn’t go away, we had a little more time. But that meant keeping the secret for longer.”
