Veep Creator Is Having Problems With Trump Project

Veep creator Armando Iannucci is finding out that it can be tricky to poke fun at President Trump these days—especially if you need American funding. Speaking at a Creative UK event, the British satirist said that his latest idea, a project riffing on Trump's speeches, has hit a wall with US backers, Deadline reports. He said potential financiers warned him off, citing concerns about retaliation from Trump supporters or even official scrutiny if the project moves forward.

Iannucci recounted being told bluntly: "You wouldn't get the money for that at the moment, I'm afraid." He said journalists had told him, "If you're on the list, your life is made miserable." He said the message was that if he went after Trump, the taxman "will come calling, you better lawyer up, you will spend the next four years just weighed down by legal issues you have to get through." Despite the setbacks, Iannucci hasn't shelved his Trump project—the Guardian notes it's unclear if Iannucci is envisioning a TV series or a film—just yet. He's now exploring financing options outside the US, saying he'll see where things go.