Lars Von Trier's new serial-killer thriller inspired by Donald Trump because 'life is evil and soulless'

The House That Jack Built stars Matt Dillon as the titular character

(Getty)

Last week, Lars von Trier released the first haunting promotional image for upcoming serial-killer thriller The House That Jack Built, featuring himself holding a giant scythe.

According to recently revealed details, the film follows a highly intelligent serial killer named Jack - played by Matt Dillon - over the course of 12 years, starting in the 70s.

Speaking about the upcoming project - which will shoot in Trollhättan, Sweden, and Copenhagen this March - the Melancholia director revealed how Donald Trump has partially inspired him.

“The House That Jack Built celebrates the idea that life is evil and soulless,” he told The Guardian. “Which is sadly proven by the recent rise of the Homo trumpus – the rat king.”

The film - which was originally planned as a TV series - stars Oscar-nominee Bruno Ganz as the character Verge, who The Hollywood Reporter describe as ‘a mysterious man who engages Jack in a recurring conversation about his actions and thoughts’.

American Honey’s Riley Keough and The Killing’s Sofie Gråbøl will star alongside Dillon, both playing women who come into contact with the titular character as he ‘attempts to create the ultimate artwork’.

Von Trier’s last film, Nymphomaniac, was a controversial two-part pornographic drama that starred the likes of Shia LaBoef, Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe.