Italian producer Andrea Iervolino (Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness) unveiled a proposal for a U.S.–Italy co-production treaty on Tuesday that they said was agreed with Mel Gibson, President Trump‘s “special ambassador” to Hollywood, and is designed to “serve as a ‘pilot project’ for the development of similar treaties between the USA and all other countries around the world.”
The proposed agreement calls for Italian producers to be “incentivized to make Italian films in the USA, involving American stars and therefore investing in the U.S.,” according to a statement. It also suggests that the Italian government launch “support programs for productions that strengthen cultural ties between Italy and the United States.”
Gibson and Iervolino couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
A statement from Iervolino, who, like Trump, doesn’t have a reputation for modesty, mentioned “estimates” that a global adoption of this model could generate up to $10 billion annually in direct investments in the U.S., but didn’t cite a source for these estimates.
“The world must recognize that the American entertainment industry has always been the leading one globally: it remains the main point of reference, capable of setting the rules of the industry worldwide,” the Italian producer said. “Meanwhile, many countries have established incentive programs to attract foreign productions and have signed bilateral agreements with various nations — but never with the United States. This has essentially left a crucial cultural bridge unresolved.”
In a bullish tone, Iervolino concluded: “It is therefore essential to initiate a win-win agreement between the USA and the rest of the world. Mel Gibson and I are actively working in this direction,” with the hope that the proposed agreement could serve “as inspiration for the rest of the world.”
Trump surprised the world, and even the stars themselves, when he posted on Truth Social early this year that he had new “ambassadors” to Hollywood — Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as the President’s “eyes and ears” in the entertainment industry. “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 posted days before his inauguration.
Iervolino on Tuesday mentioned the goal of officially signing a co-production agreement during the 2025 Venice Film Festival with, so said the statement, “the most authoritative representatives of both industries, both governments, and their respective ecosystems.” It signaled that the goal is first Italy, then the world, saying: “This could mark, for the first time, a turning point in the history of global cinema, bringing success and growth to all countries involved.”
Iervolino did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.