Contentious Danish auteur Lars Von Trier has revealed that his upcoming film, The House That Jack Built, will be partly inspired by Donald Trump.

The original project is set in Washington over the 70s and 80s and follows 12 years in the life of a “highly intelligent” serial killer. According to an interview with Von Trier, The House That Jack Built will draw parallels to the current political situation in the US – particularly the rise of the new Republican president. Speaking to the Guardian, the director revealed that the film will celebrate “the idea that life is evil and soulless, which is sadly proven by the recent rise of the Homo trumpus – the rat king.”

The news follows a recent teaser picture, shared last week, which shows Von Trier in period costume, ringing a bell and holding a scythe. The image is a direct reference to Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic horror Vampyr – and seems to be an “evocative” hint at what to expect from the film. It’s a rare comment from the director, who has refrained from talking about upcoming projects after he joked about Hitler during a Melancholia press conference in 2011. 

The House That Jack Built will star Matt Dillon, Riley Keough and Bruno Ganz, and will start shooting in Sweden in March. It’s currently slated for release in 2018.