The lead actor in a controversial new film about Donald Trump has expressed that the former president “should be grateful” for the nuanced portrayal of his early life in the movie. US actor Sebastian Stan, known for his roles in Marvel films, takes on the challenge of portraying Trump in The Apprentice, a film that delves into Trump’s rise to prominence as a real estate tycoon in New York City during the 1970s and 80s.
The film offers a deep character study of Trump’s formative years and examines the relationships that helped shape his public persona. However, the former president has reacted furiously to the film’s release, threatening legal action against the producers and dismissing it as “fake and classless.” Despite his disapproval, The Apprentice offers audiences a detailed, three-dimensional look at Trump’s early business career and the influences that molded him into the divisive figure he became.
Trump’s Legal Threats and Negative Reaction
Trump’s response to The Apprentice has been far from positive. The former president has publicly condemned the film, labeling it a misrepresentation of his life and character. Trump’s legal team has also been swift to act, warning that they are considering suing the film’s producers. In a statement, Trump described the film as “fake” and expressed hope that it would “bomb” at the box office. His legal threats have reportedly made it difficult for the filmmakers to secure a distributor in the US, with many backing out due to fear of becoming embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with the former president.
Despite these challenges, The Apprentice was eventually picked up for distribution in the US and Canada by Briarcliff Entertainment. The film was released in US theaters last week but has struggled to find commercial success at the box office so far, perhaps due to the controversy surrounding it.
A Focus on Trump’s Early Years and His Relationship with Roy Cohn
The Apprentice is set in the 1970s and 80s, a period when Donald Trump was still building his empire and crafting his public image. The film primarily focuses on Trump’s close relationship with his mentor and lawyer, Roy Cohn. Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong, who gained recognition for his role in Succession, was a notorious figure in his own right, known for his ruthless legal tactics and his influence in shaping Trump’s aggressive and often combative approach to business and politics.
Cohn’s mentorship is portrayed as pivotal to Trump’s development, instilling in him certain values that would later define his public persona. The movie shows how Cohn encouraged Trump never to admit defeat, always to project strength, and to use aggressive legal tactics to his advantage. This relationship forms the core of the film’s narrative, providing insights into the personality traits that would later become synonymous with Trump as a politician and media figure.
Director Ali Abbasi’s Struggles in Releasing the Film
The film’s director, Ali Abbasi, opened up about the difficulties he faced in getting The Apprentice made and released. Abbasi admitted that making the film was “by far the most challenging thing” he has ever done. After the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation, Abbasi was hopeful that there would be a bidding war among distributors. “I thought there would be a bidding war, do I want to go with Warner or Netflix, who do I want to pick?” Abbasi told the BBC’s Lizo Mzimba in an interview.
However, the reality was much more challenging. Abbasi explained that Trump’s threat to sue any distributor that picked up the film made it difficult to find companies willing to take on the risk. As a result, the film struggled to secure a distributor in the US, significantly delaying its release. Abbasi expressed his frustration, saying, “It was extremely difficult for us to get a distributor.” This lack of interest, despite the positive reception at Cannes, was largely attributed to Trump’s legal threats.
After months of searching, Briarcliff Entertainment eventually agreed to distribute the film in the US, but the initial buzz surrounding the project had already diminished by then. Despite these setbacks, Abbasi remained determined to release the film before the 2024 US presidential election, believing that it could contribute to the public’s understanding of Trump’s early years.
The Controversy of the Film’s Timing
One of the reasons Abbasi was eager to release the film before the US election on November 5 was the belief that it could become part of the broader conversation about Trump’s political career. In the film, Trump is portrayed at a time when he was building his business empire, but also laying the foundations for the personality and ideology that would later define his presidency.
Abbasi explained, “The choices were either to release this potentially during a Trump presidency or the aftermath of the election, whichever way it [goes], or to do it now.” The director believed that releasing the film in the midst of Trump’s re-election campaign added a unique layer to the viewing experience, allowing audiences to reflect on how Trump’s early experiences shaped his later political career. “Intellectually and as an artist, it’s much more exciting to release it now,” Abbasi said.
Despite these artistic intentions, Trump’s team has been vocal in their disapproval of the film. Earlier this week, Trump released a statement criticizing the movie and those involved in its production. “My former wife, Ivana, was a kind and wonderful person, and I had a great relationship with her until the day she died,” Trump said in response to a controversial scene in the movie that depicts him raping his then-wife Ivana. “So sad that human scum, like the people involved in this hopefully unsuccessful [movie], are allowed to say and do whatever they want in order to hurt a political movement, which is far bigger than any of us.”
Controversial Scene: Ivana Trump and the 1990 Rape Allegation
One of the most controversial aspects of The Apprentice is a scene that depicts Trump raping his first wife, Ivana Trump, during their marriage. The scene is based on a 1990 court deposition in which Ivana accused Trump of raping her. However, Ivana later distanced herself from the claim, saying that while she felt “violated” during one particular encounter, she did not want her words to be interpreted in a criminal or literal sense.
The incident, which occurred during their divorce proceedings, has continued to be a point of contention, with Trump’s legal team adamantly denying the allegations. Despite the sensitive nature of the scene, Abbasi defended its inclusion in the film, stating, “My approach is this is of importance because it’s a rupture, a hugely important character point—the relationship between Donald and Ivana—and really it’s the tragedy that’s important, not the controversy.”
Stan’s Performance as Trump and the Film’s Impact
Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Trump has been praised for its restraint and depth. Rather than relying on the exaggerated gestures and mannerisms often used in comedic impersonations of Trump, Stan’s performance is a more serious and grounded take on the former president’s early years. He portrays Trump as a man deeply influenced by his surroundings and by the people he chose to associate with, particularly Roy Cohn.
Stan himself has expressed that he believes Trump should be grateful for the film’s portrayal, as it provides a complex and three-dimensional view of his character. “We have pretty much handed him, I think, a very complex, three-dimensional take on his life, and I can’t recall anybody else doing that,” Stan said. He emphasized that while the portrayal is far from sympathetic, it offers a deeper understanding of how Trump’s personality was formed.
Jeremy Strong, who plays Roy Cohn, echoed this sentiment, stating that the film is not simply about vilifying Trump, but about understanding how he became the figure we know today. “The movie is about how Trump was made, in a way—how he became who he is today, his moral, philosophical, and political framework. A lot of that originates in Roy Cohn,” Strong said.
Mixed Reception and Potential for Awards
Despite the buzz surrounding the film, its reception has been mixed. Some critics have praised its nuanced approach to Trump’s early life, while others have expressed disappointment that it didn’t take a stronger stance. Katie Walsh of the LA Times noted that the film “humanizes Trump” in some ways but also shows how he “turned into a monster” under the right circumstances. For younger audiences who have only known Trump as a politician, the film offers an enlightening glimpse into the man behind the public figure.
The film’s release ahead of the US election has also sparked debate over its potential impact. Some have speculated that the movie could influence how voters perceive Trump, though others believe its release may be too late to make a significant difference. Jeremy Strong suggested that the film could “move the needle” in some small way, but emphasized that it is primarily a story, not a political act.
There has also been speculation about whether The Apprentice could be in the running for awards season. Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson noted that the film’s chances at the Oscars could depend on the outcome of the election. “If Trump wins the election, I don’t think [awards voters] will want to have anything to do with this movie,” Lawson said. “There would have to be a [Kamala] Harris win for people to be like, ‘OK, we defeated the evil again, we can now go back and reconsider his younger life from a safer remove.’”
A Unique Look at Trump’s Early Years
The Apprentice offers a rare glimpse into Donald Trump’s early life and the relationships that shaped him. Despite Trump’s disapproval and legal threats, the film provides a nuanced and detailed portrayal of the man who would go on to become one of the most polarizing figures in modern politics. As the US election approaches, the film’s release adds an intriguing layer to the ongoing conversation about Trump’s legacy and his influence on American society. Whether it will make a lasting impact at the box office or during awards season remains to be seen, but its complex portrayal of Trump ensures that it will be a topic of discussion for some time to come.
