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First Lady Melania Trump Takes Creative Control of Upcoming Biographical Film
Former First Lady Melania Trump has personally directed “every element” of her upcoming biographical film, “MELANIA,” according to her agent and senior advisor Marc Beckman. The 104-minute feature is set for a global theatrical release on January 30, with premiere events scheduled across multiple continents.
“The first lady’s involvement and her participation in this film is unparalleled,” Beckman told Fox News Digital. “She is fully committed from ideation of the concept itself to the creative direction across all touchpoints.”
President Donald Trump and the first lady will attend the film’s premiere at the newly renamed Trump–Kennedy Center in Washington on January 29. Simultaneous premiere events will be held in over 20 major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and Dallas, with Amazon executives expected to attend several screenings.
The film, directed by “Rush Hour” director Brett Ratner, aims to provide viewers with unprecedented access to Melania Trump’s life as she prepares to potentially return to the White House. According to Beckman, the project offers “the opportunity to look into the life of a first lady who has been very, very private.”
“She brings the audience into certain moments — interacting with her husband; the U.S. Secret Service for security; geopolitical moments; moments with world leaders; and — of course, for those who want it — there is tons of fashion here,” Beckman explained.
The project sparked a bidding war among major studios, with Amazon and MGM ultimately securing the rights for $40 million, reportedly the largest documentary deal in history. Disney, Netflix, and Paramount were among the other studios vying for the film. Beckman noted the decision to partner with Amazon was based not only on financial considerations but on their impressive team and commitment to theatrical distribution.
“Amazon has been incredible,” he said. “They have been so great and so committed to the first lady and the success of this film. We’re very grateful.”
Beyond the feature film, the deal includes a docuseries that will allow for more detailed storytelling. “The docuseries will allow the first lady to unpack these stories in a much bigger, detailed way,” Beckman added.
The film’s production values reflect Melania Trump’s aesthetic sensibilities. Renowned fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth, who has worked on campaigns for luxury brands like Chanel and Dior, handled the film’s photography. “Ellen and Melania have an incredible relationship,” Beckman said, noting that Unwerth will travel from Europe to attend a private White House screening.
The marketing campaign has been equally ambitious, with promotional materials appearing in 30 countries and translated into multiple languages. One striking example includes imagery projected onto Florence’s iconic Duomo cathedral in Italy.
For the premiere events, the first lady has designed every aspect of the experience, from seating arrangements to specially designed collectible popcorn tubs. “It is all her,” Beckman emphasized.
The film’s trailer, exclusively released in December 2025, opens with Melania entering the U.S. Capitol rotunda before her husband’s second inauguration, looking at the camera in her inauguration outfit and saying, “Here we go again.”
“MELANIA” follows the success of her memoir of the same name, which has remained on The New York Times bestseller list since its release in 2024. Upon publishing her book, Melania Trump described writing her story as “an amazing journey filled with emotional highs and lows” that was “incredibly rewarding, reminding me of my strength, and the beauty of sharing my truth.”
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14 Comments
Interesting that this Melania Trump documentary is being released so soon after her time as First Lady. I wonder if it’s an attempt to shape her legacy and public perception before it solidifies.
That’s a good point. The timing does suggest an effort to control the narrative around Melania’s tenure. It will be important to see how the film addresses both the positive and negative aspects of her time in the White House.
A Melania Trump documentary? This should be an interesting look into the life of a relatively private First Lady. I wonder if it will provide new perspectives on her time in the White House.
Given the former First Lady’s active involvement, I expect the film will offer a very personal and intimate portrayal. It will be intriguing to see how she chooses to present herself and her tenure.
I’m skeptical about how much ‘unprecedented access’ this film will really provide, given Melania Trump’s famously private nature. But I’m still curious to see what insights it might offer, if any.
You make a good observation. Melania has guarded her privacy fiercely, so it will be intriguing to see just how much genuine behind-the-scenes footage and personal anecdotes make it into the final cut.
Fascinating to see Melania Trump taking such an active role in this biographical film about her life. I’m curious to learn more about the ‘unprecedented access’ promised and how it will portray her time as First Lady.
Agreed, this level of creative control from a former First Lady is quite unusual. I’ll be interested to see how the film balances personal insights with the political aspects of her time in the White House.
A former First Lady directing her own biographical film is certainly an unusual move. I’ll be curious to see if it provides genuine insight or if it’s more of a vanity project aimed at burnishing her image.
I share your skepticism. With Melania Trump so deeply involved, it will be important to read reviews and analysis from a range of perspectives to get a balanced understanding of the film’s content and intent.
The idea of Melania Trump having ‘unprecedented access’ and ‘creative control’ over this documentary raises some red flags for me. I hope the filmmakers still maintain a degree of editorial independence and objectivity.
That’s a valid concern. Given the former First Lady’s notoriously guarded nature, it will be important to see if the film truly offers new insights or if it’s more of a carefully curated portrayal.
The idea of Melania Trump having ‘unprecedented access’ and ‘creative control’ over this documentary raises some questions for me. I hope the film maintains objectivity and gives a balanced view, not just a carefully curated one.
That’s a fair point. With the First Lady so directly involved, there’s a risk of the documentary becoming more of a vanity project than a true biographical look at her life and time in the White House.