Armando Iannucci, the brilliant mind behind the smash hit political satire TV series “Veep,” is having a terrible time raising money. His latest work, which explores the life, election, and presidency of former President Donald Trump. At an event hosted by Creative UK in Liverpool, Iannucci was candid about the obstacles he continues to encounter. He continued to stress the difficulty in exceeding financial support from U.S. investors.
Iannucci already said that the usual financiers in America are expressing enormous reluctance. They are understandably concerned about the legal ramifications of what it would mean to produce a film sympathetic to Trump. Writers and directors expressed that conversations with these buyers have generally been disheartening. He got to the heart of their sentiment. “Well, no, you’re not going to get funding for that right now, I’m sorry,” he replied, reflecting a common lament about potential legal jeopardy.
Further complicating matters, Iannucci pointed to the revival of threats from Trump to impose tariffs on productions not done by Americans. He focused on the way these threats foster an overall hostile environment for investors. Be warned, the inland revenue will be coming calling,” he cautioned. You’d better lawyer up because you will spend the next four years encumbered by legal baggage.
Though Iannucci runs into numerous obstacles, he maintains his conviction that they must see this project through. To that end, he says he’s willing to take funding from outside the United States if needed. He made clear that he is committed to forging ahead regardless of the presence of American capital.
The filmmaker is no stranger to the political landscape. He previously served as executive producer on the comedy series “The Franchise” and has helmed critically acclaimed films such as “The Death of Stalin” and “The Personal History of David Copperfield.” His experience in turn gives him a distinctive perspective on the challenges of producing such politically charged content.
Iannucci certainly didn’t mince words in his denunciation of that politically charged film depicting Trump. He characterized it as “pure malicious defamation,” and challenged its truthfulness and artistic integrity. He commented that the movie shouldn’t even be allowed to exist in the straight-to-DVD equivalent of the bargain bin area, which is telling.
Iannucci pointed out that Trump’s lawyers have been active in attempting to suppress critical narratives, sending a cease-and-desist letter to the producers of a film depicting Trump’s early years. This film shockingly depicts graphic scenes of Ivana Trump’s murder. This decision has certainly made any project depicting the Trump family sensitive and complex.
While Iannucci works his way through these choppy waters, he is still clearly committed to telling the important story that he feels needs to be told. “I’ve been talking to journalists out there who say, ‘If you’re on the list, your life is made miserable,’” he noted, emphasizing the challenges faced by those who dare to challenge powerful figures.