Washington (CNN) - A secretly-produced, $1 million feature film about Sarah Palin will debut next month in Iowa, a reminder that the former Alaska governor remains a very real factor in the Republican presidential nominating contest despite dismissals of her potential candidacy by GOP insiders.
The two-hour movie - the existence of which was first reported late Tuesday by RealClearPolitics and confirmed by CNN - is the work of conservative filmmaker Stephen Bannon.
Bannon was first approached by Palin and her staff after last November's midterm elections and asked to produce a series of videos that would highlight the former governor's record in Alaska, an attempt to recover her "maverick" brand and repair the political fallout from her decision to quit the governorship in 2009.
The filmmaker took the idea a step further. With editorial control and his own financing, Bannon produced a feature-length film taking a favorable look at Palin's rise to power in Alaska, her reform efforts as governor and her blockbuster entrance onto the national political stage as John McCain's running mate in 2008.
Quietly and with the help of Palin and her team, Bannon was granted access to key Palin allies in Alaska and a treasure trove of rarely seen footage, including images dating back to Palin's time on the Wasilla City Council, her first political office.
Palin and her husband Todd were given a private screening of the film last week in Arizona, CNN confirmed. The movie's title: "The Undefeated."
Palin has been relatively quiet as of late aside from a handful of Fox News appearances, but word of the film is sure to be a wake-up call to Republican operatives in Washington and in key early primary states who have largely brushed aside the possibility of a Palin presidential bid.
She is, her supporters argue, the only potential candidate with the kind of political muscle needed to skip some of the early nominating hurdles like network debates or the closely-watched Ames Straw Poll, and still join the presidential primary race in September or October with a credible and devoted grassroots following.
A Palin adviser re-affirmed to CNN Tuesday that she is still "seriously considering" a White House bid.
With the film's rollout certain to grab media attention, Republican candidates already in the race are likely to face questions about Palin as they ramp up their campaigns this summer.
Bannon told RealClearPolitics he plans to premier the film in late June in the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa, followed by a promotional swing through the other pivotal states of New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
The box office FLOP of the century for sure.........
Please just GO AWAY $arah............
Won't this woman GET IT and realize that she's regarded as a quitting bimbo. Sarah, please, GO AWAY FOREVER. Nobody wants you.
Run Sarah, maybe the Repubs would nominate you. Could save the democrats a ton of campaign money and effort on the presidential campaign that we could redirect to congressional campaigns...a win-win.
The people have spoken, why can't she hear?
SHE had to approach someone to do the film? This is just too funny! When will this self-serving, money grubbing loser be put out to pasture? PLEASE stop giving her so much press!
Sacha Baron Cohen in drag would do it better.
I'm sure President Obama goes to bed every night hoping the Republican's are stupid enough to name Sarah Palin as their nominee. Not to mention how much material she would give Tina Fey.
Who in their right mind would vote for this person as president?
Didn't Disney make that movie before? Something about the migration of lemmings or something? Now we have names and faces!
"The Undefeated."
Hmmmm – lost the bid for Vice President, failed to keep her job as a Governor, lost her 'conservative' values with the pregnant, unwed daughter, Interesting choice of titles!
CAN"T WAIT TO SEE IT. PALIN 2012
WOW!!! We may need a good laugh this summer, and if anyone can can us a glood laugh its Palin and the family. Do we have to see her hunting, cleaning fish, which is about all she can do! Maybe she should show proof of here degree and high school diploma, since she was sooooooooooo concern about Obamas birth........Oh well enough said, lets she what else this bimbo can come up with...............
Palin will defeat Prez Obama? Really? What are you smoking? These posts tell it all... About 100 to 1 against Palin...
@Jeff: Something tells me we won't see a John Edwards movie. Hollyweird tends to overlook the misdeeds of liberals.
Right, like there has never been a movie made about JFK or the Kennedys ...
"Who in their right mind would vote for this person as president?"
Unfortunately, that's not the question nor is it what she is depending on. The correct framing is as follows:
"Are there enough people who are sufficiently not in their right minds to vote her into the WH?"
The cynic in me wants to say yes, but the realist opints out the poll results. She's finished. CNN and the rest of the media are just twisting this filthy little dishrag to see what else they can wring out of it.
Ugh, no, no need for a Palin infomercial.
Isn't it true that Pauly Shore is playing her husband, the "First Dude"?
Republicans elected one dim-wit by the name of W and now they'd really vote for another one named Sarah? They do have some intelligent potential candidates, however Palin is not one of them.
If people are dumb enough to vote Rick Scott into office in Florida they are plenty dumb enough to vote Palin for President. Sad, but true.
The movie will be called ?
1. A volunteer , not a victim !
2. The reincarnation of Anita Bryant ?
3. Moose Money , " u betcha " ?
Another way to make a profit. Have someone write books for her, now have someone make a movie. I'm sure it will be a factual documentary................She sure can smell out the cash. And people will pay to see this garbage. ChaChing!!!
Please run Sarah, please please run. And you know who your VP needs to be. Palin/Bachman 2012! It's the ticket that can put the country back on the right track by giving the Democrats control of the house and 60 senators.
Blue
We need someone like Palin – courageous and smart. She understands what's really going on in the world. Not sure what all the hatred is about – there are many, many Americans who she relates to.
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"Smart"?! Are you freaking kidding me? "Courageous"?!? Wow. How much of your hard earned money have you given her? She's got you right where she wants you. You and all the other nitwits. She's neither smart, nor courageous. Courageous.....yeah, so courageous she avoids primaries, or ever speaking without the benefit of a written and rehearsed script, or in the comfy confines of her house or a Fox News studio where every element is controlled to her favor. Smart......yeah, so smart she has to write basic concepts on the palm of her hand so she doesn't forget them! I did that too, but in the 4th grade.
The woman is an unprecedented national embarrassment, and she and her family are despicable American trash. Anyone who supports our National Twit should immediately have their head examined.
How many other losing vice presidential candidates went on such an extensive personal money making campaign as this clown? Unbelievable that anyone listens to her.
So much for the media learning a lesson from the whipping of Donald Trump....
The Palin army marches on, picking up recruits along the way...