‘Melania’ Documentary Director Says ‘Divine Intervention’ Brought Him to the Surprise Hit Project
Veteran film director Brett Ratner said “divine intervention” brought him to the new “Melania” documentary.
The film focuses on the 20 days in January 2025 leading up to Donald Trump being sworn in a second time as president, from first lady Melania Trump’s perspective.
“Melania” surprised industry experts by taking in over $7 million during its opening weekend, more than doubling some estimates going into the weekend.
Film distributor Amazon MGM announced it is adding 200 more theaters after the documentary netted an additional $1 million in box office sales Monday.
Ratner — best known for helming feature movies like “Rush Hour” and “X-Men: The Last Stand” — told Fox News in an interview published Wednesday that God was responsible for bringing him on board the first lady’s documentary.
Regarding the opening weekend success, he said, “I mean, the validation was undeniable, but honestly, I felt like I won just when Melania called me and asked me to direct the film. When I saw the president for the first time, and after I was hired, I said to him, ‘You know, that bullet that missed you, I think was a divine intervention,’” Ratner began. “He said, ‘Yeah, I think you’re right.’”
“You know what my divine intervention was?” he then asked President Trump. “Your wife hiring me to direct this documentary.”
“That was my divine intervention. So, for me, I gotta pinch myself. I mean, the access that they gave me, the opportunity that they gave me, was just beyond my wildest imagination. So, I already felt like I won,” Ratner told Fox