Ah, to live in a world where the Trump presidency’s biggest disaster was a Sharknado. It almost happened, as the Apprentice host very nearly played the second sequel’s president, and – in true Trump fashion – threatened to sue when producers rescinded the offer.

The Hollywood Reporter put together a wild history of the many C-list cameos populating the Sharknado franchise; now set for its fifth installment on Sunday, August 6. Fans of the franchise may recall that Mark Cuban played himself as the President in Sharknado 3, though the piece reveals that prior choices included Sarah Palin and Trump; then star Ian Ziering’s former Apprentice boss.

Trump initially agreed to the role before producers sent a contract to attorney Michael D. Cohen (the same now under investigation), only to be stonewalled with “Donald’s thinking about making a legitimate run for the presidency, so we’ll get back to you.” A ticking production clock necessitated Mark Cuban step in for the role, after which Asylum boss David Latt says the Trump camp threatened to sue for the slight:

“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!’ “ Contacted by THR, Cohen acknowledges a dinner with Ziering to discuss casting Trump but says he has no recollection of the angry correspondence.

The whole piece really is worth a read (Crispin Glover almost played Fin with brain damage), while Sharknado 5: Global Swarming will premiere this Sunday.

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