Donald Trump, the incoming U.S. President, has named actors Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, and Jon Voight as special representatives for Hollywood on Truth Social, an announcement that caught at least one of the appointees off guard.
The president-elect characterized the three as his “eyes and ears” in Hollywood, California, which he described as “a great but very troubled place” in need of rejuvenation.
“They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” Trump stated. “It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!”
Gibson, the director and star of the award-winning film “Braveheart,” seemed uninformed about the appointment. “This is the first I’m hearing of it,” Gibson told the press, but later indicated he would “heed the call.” His directorial works have garnered several Academy Award nods, including a Best Picture nomination for “Hacksaw Ridge” in 2016.
Stallone has enjoyed a long career, spanning nearly five decades, and is known for creating two iconic film franchises. His original “Rocky” film brought him Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay in 1976, and won Best Picture. The “Rambo” franchise has amassed over $800 million globally, and the “Rocky” series, including “Creed” spinoffs, has garnered over $1.7 billion worldwide.
Voight rose to prominence with his role in 1969’s “Midnight Cowboy,” and won an Academy Award for Best Actor in “Coming Home” (1978). His recent performances include an Emmy-nominated role as Mickey Donovan in the TV series “Ray Donovan” (2013-2020).
The announcement occurred as the U.S. film and television industry sees its steepest decline in recent history. Data indicates a 26% fall in overall production from 2021 levels. In the greater Los Angeles area, production decreased by 5.6% from 2023, marking the lowest level since the pandemic year of 2020.
At a gala in November at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Stallone showed his support by likening Trump to the first U.S. president. “Trump is the second George Washington,” Stallone proclaimed, lauding the president-elect’s significant achievements.
Voight recently issued a video message criticizing Trump’s political adversaries, Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, stating, “They will destroy the American dream. They are corrupt.” He had previously commended Trump as “the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.”
The Los Angeles entertainment industry is currently grappling with numerous challenges. Recent wildfires have caused substantial damage to production facilities and residences in the region, with Gibson being one of the individuals who lost properties in the fires. Domestic box office revenues have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, still falling short of 2018 figures.
No specific responsibilities or authority were outlined for the special envoys in Trump’s announcement, leading to questions about their role in addressing these industry challenges.
