Donald Trump’s biopic, “The Apprentice”, which critically examines his early career as a New York real estate mogul, has secured a US distribution deal. Scheduled for release on October 11, the film is set to debut in theaters this fall, strategically timed to coincide with the final phase of the presidential election, generating significant buzz.
“The Apprentice”, which premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May, has been picked up by Briarcliff Entertainment for its US release. This independent distributor plans to release the film in theatres on October 11. The movie has already attracted attention due to its controversial content and portrayal of Trump’s personal life.
Trump’s team has threatened legal action against the film, alleging it contains “sensationalized lies.” A particular point of contention is a scene depicting Trump allegedly forcing his first wife, Ivana, a claim Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, has vehemently denied. Cheung criticized the film as “pure fiction” and suggested that legal measures would be pursued to address what he calls “blatantly false assertions.”
The film features Marvel star Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump, with Jeremy Strong of “Succession” playing Trump’s advisor, Roy Cohn. Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova portrays Ivana Trump. “The Apprentice” received mixed reviews at Cannes; “The Guardian’s” Peter Bradshaw deemed it “too complicated and not worth it,” while “Variety’s” Owen Gleiberman found it “tough and biting.” “The Times of London” argued the film might elicit sympathy for Trump, portraying his rise in New York high society during the late 1970s and 1980s.
The film also includes a contentious scene where Trump is shown undergoing liposuction surgery, adding to the controversy surrounding its content. Although Ivana Trump in 1989 claimed of sexual assault later but in a July 2015 statement, she said, “The whole thing is completely false”, soon after presidential campaign. The film’s portrayal of this incident has stirred significant debate. Director Ali Abbasi has dismissed the legal threats, suggesting that Trump might even enjoy the film despite its provocative nature.
