New York — Hollywood agencies don’t want their star clients to play one of the 21st century’s most divisive political leaders, despite popular belief.
Sebastian Stan remained loyal to “The Apprentice.” He had the utmost trust in its director, Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi. Despite his nervousness, he was determined to do it. He wanted to play Trump.
“There wasn’t a lot of competition,” Stan laughs.
But I thought, If this isn’t going to happen with me then it’s not happening because of my ego. “I am afraid, so it will occur.”
The Apprentice is easily the number one Fall movie that has people divided. The series has Stan playing a young Trump — an up-and-coming New York real estate developer trying to land deals with lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) Of all the 2024 releases, “The Apprentice” has arguably endured one of the rougher rides to screens.
The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival but no major studios or specialty labels would touch it. This is clearly what Trump’s security team was emailing about in the cease-and-desist letter.
Others yet just needed to get out — like another investor, a Donald Trump supporter and one-time Washington Commanders owner named Dan Snyder.
Briarcliff Entertainment revealed this week that “The Apprentice” will premiere on Oct. 11, weeks before Election Day. It continues to seek additional screens. The filmmakers launched a unique Kickstarter effort to fund its distribution on Tuesday.
“This project has been pretty crazy, from beginning to end,” Abbasi says. “It’s incomplete. Maybe it will grow crazier.”
Trump’s reelection campaign has strongly attacked the movie. After Cannes, Trump campaign spokeswoman Steven Cheung termed the film “pure fiction.” Following the announcement of the release date on Friday, Cheung referred to it as “election interference by Hollywood elites.”
What role “The Apprentice” plays before Nov. 5 will be one of the biggest movie themes this fall. Hollywood stars are strong supporters of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, but political films are rare in today’s sequel- and superhero-dominated film business. That provides a fascinating election-year test case. Will liberals see the Trump film? Will conservatives watch a film that opposes Trump?
Abbasi, whose last film “Holy Spider” examined Iranian society through a serial killer targeting women, says he’s not trying to influence voters.
“Do I want to demonstrate character? Yes, I would love to, and I think we have excellent stuff to show, says Abbasi. How you use that knowledge is up to you. But that knowledge may help you vote.”
Abbasi believes filmmakers must address current politics. Despite Trump’s widespread presence, Abbasi asserts that there have been minimal efforts to comprehend him.
Abbasi continues, “Donald and Ivana have never truly received humane treatment.” “They’re either mistreated or well-treated—it’s mythical. Deconstructing that myth is the only way to dispel it. I think deconstructing that myth is best from a humane perspective.”
“For me, the best comp for him is Barry Lyndon,” Abbasi says, referring to Stanley Kubrick’s film. “You don’t think of Barry Lyndon as good or awful. His ambivalence and navigation skills are remarkable. His goal is to become someone. He doesn’t know what he wants or why. He only wants to rise.”
Cannes gave “The Apprentice” mixed reviews, but praised Stan and Strong. Stan, as Trump, rapes Maria Bakalova, as Ivana, in the film. In her 1990 divorce deposition, Ivana Trump claimed Trump raped her. Trump rejected the claim, and Ivana Trump said she felt violated—not literally.
Abbasi says “The Apprentice” is not a hit. He asserts that Trump might find the film appealing. However, many have questioned if “The Apprentice” exhibits too much affection for Trump and Cohn, McCarthy’s chief counsel during the 1954 communist hearings.
I don’t think anyone is superior. Stan argues none of us are born flawless or morally pure. “Life is far muddier and trickier than that. I believe empathy is the only way to learn. Empathy must be nurtured and protected. I suppose exhibiting empathy’s antithesis can nourish it.”
Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier) in Marvel films, liked the film because Abbasi added a European perspective from Copenhagen. Stan, who was born in Romania and moved to New York with his mother at 12, can relate. He says the film is the genesis of the “win at all costs” ideology.
Strong is famous for character consistency. Abbasi was occasionally confused by Strong’s on-set behaviour before realizing he was Roy Cohn. Stan unknowingly participated in this immersion. In one scenario, he mentions eating cheeseballs.
Stan estimates he ate 25–30 cheeseballs that night. “I woke up the next morning and was on the toilet at 6:30 before they picked me up.” I was hurting. I was stuck in the toilet. Maybe this is technique acting.”
Abbasi was shocked when “The Apprentice”’s destiny seemed questionable. He thought he crafted an exciting, edgy flick.
It’s not perfect, but I always thought of the US. However, I frequently heard, “This is the land of the free.” This is a free-speech country. Abbasi says, “Speak anything you want.” “I wasn’t met with that. I was confronted with business calculations.”
Strong concurs.
Strong adds, “I find that, alone, very frightening and a harbinger of dark things.” First, it’s a movie. This was not a political act or occurrence. A movie.”
Finally, all three want people to watch “The Apprentice” with an open mind.
“We’re in a very black-and-white mentality right now, and I went into this movie knowing that,” Stan adds. “Let’s take the less travelled path; maybe others will too. We should reflect on and assess prominent people who matter in our periods and lives.
