Funny or Die pulled its own Beyoncé on Wednesday, releasing Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal, a 50-minute spoof movie about the Republican presidential candidate starring Johnny Depp in the title role.
The surprise release has been in the works for months, Funny or Die co-founder Adam McKay told the New York Times in an interview pegged to the film’s release. In addition to Depp, The Art of the Dealalso stars Alfred Molina, Robert Morse, Patton Oswalt (as Merv Griffin), Jack McBrayer, Michaela Watkins (as Ivanna Trump), Henry Winkler, Stephen Merchant, Kristen Schaal, Andy Richter, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel, and even Alf. Ron Howard, who directed the comedy, makes an appearance as himself.
“Hi, I’m Ron Howard, and you can probably guess that I love film,” Howard says at the beginning of the film. He then goes on to explain that while The Art of the Deal was “thought to be lost in the Cybill Shepherd blouse fire of 1989,” it actually wound up hidden from public view. Trump, in a fit of anger, buried the project after it was preempted by Monday Night Football. (McKay compared the fake Funny or Die project to Jerry Lewis’ real The Day the Clown Cried, the comic’s Holocaust movie.)
“On my 10th birthday, I saw something that changed my life,” Depp says as Trump as the fake movie opens. “A picture of a kid standing in front of the Taj Mahal. It was gorgeous, it was huge, and it was easily the classiest thing ever built by a Muslim.” Later in the film, following a cameo by Christopher Lloyd – spoiler alert – Trump shows up from the future, introducing himself as the president and talking about a cabinet meeting with Carmen Elektra.
“Get @donaldtrump on Twitter as soon as it’s invented, otherwise you’ll be stuck with @realdonaldtrump. You’ll hate it. Trust me,” future Trump (still Depp) tells past Trump.
The full Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal is streaming now on the Funny or Die website and can be seen here. Check out a trailer for the movie above.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com