'The Apprentice': Everything You Need to Know About the Controversial Donald Trump Film

Sebastian Stan is set to portray Donald Trump in his upcoming film, ‘The Apprentice.’ Announced in 2018, the movie explores Trump's early career in the 1970s and 1980s as he built his real estate empire in New York City. The film is described as a "mentor-protégé narrative," featuring notable figures from Trump's life such as Roy Cohn, Ivana Trump, and Fred Trump.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and has sparked controversy, particularly from Trump's team. Steven Cheung, a communications director for the Trump campaign, has announced plans to sue the filmmakers for what they claim are false assertions. 

Also Read: Donald Trump Threatens Lawsuit Over Sebastian Stan’s Controversial New Movie

‘The Apprentice’ stars Sebastian Stan, known for his roles as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel universe, and controversial real-life figures like Tommy Lee in ‘Pam & Tommy’ and Jeff Gillooly in ‘I, Tonya.’ The cast also includes Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, Martin Donovan as Fred Trump, and Joe Pingue as mobster Anthony Salerno.

Although an official synopsis has yet to be released, the film focuses on Trump's early career and the beginnings of his real estate business, highlighting themes of power, corruption, and deception. Directed by Ali Abbasi, known for international films like ‘Shelley’ and ‘Border’, the film began shooting in November 2023 and wrapped up in early January 2024. 

The movie drew attention at Cannes, especially for scenes depicting Trump getting liposuction and a controversial depiction of Trump raping his first wife, Ivana. Despite these contentious moments, the film received an eight-minute standing ovation, with critics praising Stan's nuanced performance.

Following its premiere, Trump's team criticized the film as defamatory, threatening legal action. However, director Ali Abbasi seemed unperturbed, expressing willingness to discuss the film with Trump and his campaign team. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 20th May 2024, but its official release date has not yet been announced.

– Farheen Ali