Why Melania Trump's $40 million documentary deal with Amazon has sent Hollywood into a tizzy
US First Lady
Melania Trump
is one of the most mysterious figures in politics. She is currently serving her second term in the role, and despite publishing a memoir that details her life, career, and relationship with Donald Trump, she remains a source of intrigue. Surprisingly, Melania and Amazon have partnered up for a documentary, the first exploring her life and featuring her approval and collaboration.
Melania Trump will be the subject of a new documentary directed by Brett Ratner and distributed by Amazon Prime Video. Amazon's Prime Video streaming service would release a 'behind the scenes' documentary about Melania Trump's life in the mid-2025.
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Melania's documentary sends Hollywood into a tizzy
Melania Trump's whopping $40 million deal with Amazon has sent Hollywood into a meltdown. The project is gaining traction with a director attached -- Brett Ratner -- bystanders are going into meltdown mode.
First things first, that is a lot of dollars, and if you're wondering why Amazon is so keen to give it to the First Lady, it's to turn her life story into a documentary.
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The sheer amount of money involved is staggering—but perhaps even more surprising is Melania Trump's decision to appoint Brett as the lead on this project. Brett was ousted from Hollywood nearly eight years ago following allegations of sexual misconduct made by six actresses. Yet, according to an insider, the Trumps 'don't care.'
'Everyone in liberal Hollywood is melting down about it. They can't believe Melania secured $40 million,' the insider said.
The source added, 'Most people would be alarmed by Brett's cancellation, but the Trumps aren't concerned.' Reportedly, Brett played a key role in negotiating the hefty deal for Melania, which may explain their willingness to overlook his controversial past.
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This raises questions about whether the project is truly worth the $40 million price tag—and whether Amazon will see a return on its investment. Puck co-founder Matthew Belloni suggests there may be more going on behind the scenes.
According to Belloni, the move could be part of a larger strategy by Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos to curry favor with Donald Trump. Bezos' ex-wife was recently criticized by Elon Musk, a vocal Trump ally—adding another layer of intrigue to an already complex situation.
What is the documentary all about?
The documentary will trace Melania's journey from her early days in the fashion industry at 16, through her international modeling career - a topic she recently explored in her best-selling memoir - and her transition to Melania Knauss before moving to the U.S. in 1996.
Upon her arrival, she quickly rose to prominence in New York's high society, a trajectory that eventually led her to her future husband, Donald Trump. Brett, known for directing X-Men: The Last Stand, will direct the documentary. Ratner, whose last directorial project was in 2018, faced accusations of sexual assault and harassment from multiple women during the Me Too movement.
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As reported by the Los Angeles Times, actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge were among the women who accused Ratner, 55, of harassment on November 1, 2017, which Brett denied.
An Amazon spokesperson expressed their excitement, stating: "We are excited to share this truly unique story with our millions of customers around the world,".
How Melania got the deal with Amazon?
Jeff Bezos, the founder and chairman of Amazon, along with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, visited Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida residence after the President returned to office. The bond between Trump and Bezos appears to have strengthened lately, with rumors indicating that Amazon will contribute $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.
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The Wall Street Journal states that Donald Trump's December dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate served as the inspiration for the documentary. Melania Trump discussed the movie's concept with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his partner Lauren Sanchez during the meal.
Melania's team had already contacted several other studios in an attempt to find a collaborator for the project before Amazon expressed interest. It was also reported that Melania's team approached a few wealthy business leaders and CEOs who had been at Donald Trump's inauguration. Early offers to support the film reportedly started at $10 million. Eventually, Amazon showed strong interest and closed the deal.
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