Title: Amazon Spends $40 Million on Melania Trump Documentary
In an eyebrow-raising turn of events, Amazon is delving into a documentary about Melania Trump, the incoming president's wife. The project, dubbed a "vanity" piece by Puck, promises an "unprecedented behind-the-scenes look" at the First Lady, as per Amazon's claims. Quite unexpectedly, the film will be helmed by Brett Ratner, a renowned director whose career took a hit due to sexual misconduct allegations during the #MeToo movement.
Initially, Semafor disclosed the news, revealing that filming has already commenced and the documentary is slated for a brief theatrical run before hitting Amazon's streaming service, Prime. Subsequent reports from Puck revealed the financial details of the deal, indicating Amazon shelled out a whopping $40 million to obtain Ratner's film. Melania will also assume the role of an executive producer, and, as per Puck's Matthew Belloni, her remuneration from this project is uncertain but likely significant. Amazon has plans to supplement this documentary with a multi-episode docuseries on Melania.
Question marks surround Amazon's decision to invest in this project at such a critical juncture. Or perhaps, this coincidental timing is merely a coincidence. Interestingly, Amazon, like others in the tech industry, has donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration festivities. Meta, Sam Altman, OpenAI, and Apple's Tim Cook have made similar contributions.
The upcoming documentary is expected to be little more than an adoration fest for Melania, akin to a "warm embrace," according to Semafor, with Puck describing it as "quite a payday for Mrs. Trump." Despite enjoying significant publicity, Melania has typically shied away from the spotlight. Yet, she has remained vigilant in safeguarding her image, even taking legal action against publications that spread rumors about her past, including her involvement with an escort service.
Brett Ratner's involvement in this project remains a subject of much discussion, given his previous allegations of sexual misconduct. Six women, including actress Olivia Munn, accused Ratner of various acts of misconduct in 2017, during the peak of the #MeToo movement. Ratner refuted these accusations, but his agency severed ties with him. Despite the decade-long absence from the industry, Amazon has shown its faith in Ratner by backing his new project. Ratner's connections to Trump-world figures, such as Steven Mnuchin, former treasury secretary and an ex-colleague, could have played a role in securing the project.
The future of Melania's documentary promises to leverage advanced technology and tech platforms, with Amazon planning a multi-episode docuseries alongside the feature film. Regardless of the controversy surrounding Brett Ratner's past allegations, his expertise in technology-driven filmmaking could contribute significantly to the project.
