America needed a hero, and that hero was almost Donald Trump.

The Sharknado movies hover around that ‘so bad they’re good’ grey area, and they tend to star people who are desperate to be famous.

That means the franchise is a perfect fit for someone like the Donald, and their third instalment almost featured the sentient naartjie.

Released back in 2015, the Hollywood Reporter has the details on how this played out:

Producers’ first choice to play the leader of the free world in the Washington, D.C.-set disaster film was Sarah Palin, but negotiations with the former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee had fallen through. That’s when Ian Ziering, the gung-ho star of the schlocky Syfy franchise, had the inspiration to capitalize [sic] on the special relationship he’d developed with Trump while taping Celebrity Apprentice …

His reality TV boss would make a good commander in chief, he reasoned. An offer went out. Almost immediately, it elicited a response.

“The Donald said yes,” recalls David Latt, the 51-year-old co-founder of The Asylum, the off-brand assembly line behind the Sharknado series. “He was thrilled to be asked.”

Alas, Trump never did get to fend off a swarm of hammerheads in the Lincoln Bedroom.

How about that picture, huh? Now you know what happens when you kiss a toad and it only turns one-eighth prince.

We’re all very sad Donald didn’t take the role in Sharknado, because who wouldn’t want to see yet another disastrous cameo in a crummy movie (HERE)?

That, and the fact that his reason for bailing out is one we’re all far too familiar with:

“We got pretty far,” says [casting director Gerald] Webb of the Trump negotiations. “It was serious talks.” A contract was drawn up and sent to Trump attorney Michael D. Cohen — the same attorney currently under FBI investigation in connection with the Russia inquiry.

But enthusiasm turned into weeks of silence from the Trump camp. Eventually, a reason for the stalling emerged. “Donald’s thinking about making a legitimate run for the presidency, so we’ll get back to you,” Latt recalls Cohen saying. “This might not be the best time.” With the production clock ticking, Asylum pulled the trigger on a backup plan, offering the role to Mark Cuban…

“Then we immediately heard from Trump’s lawyer,” recalls Latt. “He basically said, ‘How dare you? Donald wanted to do this. We’re going to sue you! We’re going to shut the entire show down!’ “

If we have learnt one thing about the Donald since he became POTUS, it’s that he has the most fragile ego the presidency has ever seen.

A delicate snowflake, you might say.

What became of Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!? Of course we have the trailer for you:

Probably still better than The Emoji Movie.

[source:hollywoodreporter]