Recall the time when Hollywood legend Johnny Depp played flamboyant businessman Donald Trump in a parody film based on his book, Trump: The Art of the Deal. His exceptional performance helped the three-time Academy Award-nominated actor convince his fans that he truly is a superstar.
Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie, starring Depp as Donald Trump, is loosely based on the 1987 autobiographical book Trump: The Art of the Deal. The book’s authorship is attributed to journalist Tony Schwartz and the 45th president of the United States.
The actor’s portrayal of Donald Trump in the 2016 parody film directed by Jeremy Konner established his reputation for transformational acting. Trump’s words and demeanor were given life by the uncanny resemblance and Depp’s dedication to every facet of the character.
Johnny Depp Was Exceptional In Donald Trump’s The Art Of The Deal: The Movie
Johnny Depp‘s acting versatility is undeniable. He has consistently pushed the boundaries of his creativity, whether it was through the portrayal of quirky characters like in Pirates of the Caribbean or dark and intense roles like in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Then, by portraying Donald Trump in Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie, he seamlessly proved his talent for convincingly capturing wildly diverse personalities.
Depp gave his best performance in years in this 50-minute mock biopic from Funny or Die. The editor-in-chief (of Funny or Die) at the time reportedly fought tooth and nail to keep the production a secret for months. He told The New York Times:
“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.”
Donald Trump was portrayed as a buffoon in a 2016 parody movie. The spoof was directed by Jeremy Konner, who also created the television series Drunk History, and was written by Joe Randazzo, a former editor of The Onion.
Jeremy Konner’s Parody Film Convinced Fans Why Johnny Depp Is A Superstar
Johnny Depp’s comic timing in Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie highlighted his frequently overlooked gift for humor, even though he may be best known for his dramatic performances. Fans were in awe of his comedic brilliance and thus, could not stop expressing their admiration for the actor’s performance after ABC News shared a movie clip on YouTube.
One fan was so convinced, saying he could do “anything”:
“Johnny Depp can do ANYTHING when it comes to acting!”
This film made one fan want to die of laughter, who wrote:
“This movie had me dying of laughter for 50 minutes straight.”
Another fan observed Depp’s celebrity status has reached new heights as a result of his portrayal of Donald Trump as a larger-than-life superstar:
“Johnny has to be as nutty as the characters he plays! F*cking hilarious!”Genius really”
While one argued as to why the actor was not given an Oscar for this movie:
“Wow!! What an amazing portable of our president Donald..why didn’t Johnny get an Oscar for this??”
One praised the actor’s performance and added:
“Best imitation ever.”
Jeremy Konner once spoke with Entertainment Weekly about his difficulties in keeping the movie a secret:
“When we set out to make this, my biggest concern was that by the time it came out, it would be completely irrelevant. I thought, ‘Oh, [Trump is] going to go away,’This thing is too relevant. I wish it was less relevant.”
When asked how they managed to keep the film a secret, the director replied:
“I have no idea; I told everyone I knew. I wasn’t supposed to — but come on. Honestly, I couldn’t keep my goddamn mouth shut.”
Along with Michaela Watkins playing Ivana Trump, the movie also starred Jack McBrayer, Stephen Merchant, Patton Oswalt, Alfred Molina, Henry Winkler, Andy Richter, Jacob Tremblay, Paul Scheer, Kristen Schaal, Jason Mantzoukas, and Ron Howard.
Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie became available for free on Funny or Die.com on February 10, 2016.
