Sebastian Stan Finds 'Not Safe' Warnings About Playing Donald Trump 'Weirdly Motivating'

Sebastian Stan faced significant warnings before stepping into the role of Donald Trump in the film ‘The Apprentice’, but these cautions only fuelled his determination to take on the challenging part. The film, which is set in the 1980s, features Stan as the controversial figure, alongside Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Jeremy Strong as Trump’s mentor, lawyer Roy Cohn.

In an interview, Stan revealed that many advised him against playing Trump. "I had people tell me not to do it. I had people tell me I don't look like him. I had people tell me that it's not safe for me to do it. I had people say that I shouldn't try to alienate half the country," he explained. Known for his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Stan found the various warnings and fears surrounding the role “weirdly motivating.”

Image Courtesy: The Guardian

Gabriel Sherman, the film’s writer, noted that several actors declined the role of Trump due to apprehension about public backlash. However, both Stan and Strong assert that ‘The Apprentice’ does not aim to vilify Trump, who is currently campaigning for president again. 

Stan emphasised that the film offers a nuanced view, stating, "In some ways, it's sort of a love story." He highlighted an early remark from Strong, who said, "I'm playing a guy named Roy, and you're playing a guy named Donald."

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, prompting criticism from Trump’s camp. Steven Cheung, a communications director for Trump’s campaign, condemned the movie and threatened legal action over what he described as “blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers.”

Jeremy Strong defended the film’s intent, clarifying, "This is a movie about two human beings, not about two villains or monsters. I don't think the movie attempts to vilify these people. I think it attempts to understand where they came from and how they became who they are."

-Sushmita Sarkar