The film 'The Apprentice,' directed by Ali Abbasi and featuring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, is set to release on 800 screens in Russia on November 1, 2024. This release follows its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, where it received an eight-minute standing ovation. Despite its acclaim, the film has faced significant challenges, including censorship in Russia, which required modest edits such as blacking out a scene involving a gay orgy. Trump's legal team has denounced the film as defamatory and has threatened legal action against its producers, highlighting the contentious atmosphere surrounding its release. The film has grossed approximately $3.9 million domestically and $13 million worldwide, although its North American release was delayed due to legal disputes and censorship issues in various countries.
Director Ali Abbasi and stars Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong have previously opened up about the challenges they faced while making 'The Apprentice.' The film, which centers on Trump in the 1980s, has encountered significant hurdles, including a cease and desist letter from Trump's legal team, which Abbasi described as a major obstacle in the production process. Investor Dan Snyder's exit from the project added to the difficulties faced by the filmmakers. Despite these challenges, Briarcliff Entertainment is set to release the film on October 11, 2024, just weeks before the US presidential election, raising concerns about its potential impact on the political landscape. Trump's campaign has already labeled the film as 'election interference,' emphasizing the stakes involved.
A recent critique by A. S. Hamrah in The New York Review of Books describes 'The Apprentice' as a bland Hollywood biopic that fails to challenge power dynamics. The film portrays Trump's early life and his relationship with Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong, emphasizing themes of power and manipulation. Hamrah notes that the film includes a cut scene featuring a homoerotic dream sequence and suggests that Cohn's influence on Trump is depicted as a mentorship. The critique highlights that the film ends with Cohn's death in 1986, followed by Trump's rise, and draws parallels to other cinematic works like 'Citizen Kane' and 'Armageddon Time.' Hamrah argues that the film ultimately reflects on Cohn's legacy and Trump's character without offering a critical lens on their actions.
Abbasi aims to provide a humanistic view of Trump, contrasting the myth surrounding his persona with a more nuanced portrayal. The film includes a controversial scene depicting a rape allegation from Ivana Trump, which has sparked discussions about the ethical implications of such representations in film. The cast emphasizes the importance of empathy in storytelling, suggesting that understanding the complexities of characters can lead to a more profound narrative.
In a related development, former NBC chief marketing officer John Miller has publicly reflected on his time working with Trump on 'The Apprentice.' In his op-ed titled 'We Created a Monster,' published on October 16, 2024, Miller expressed regret for promoting Trump's business image, stating he mythologized Trump's success despite multiple bankruptcies. He described Trump as charming yet easily manipulated, and he believes Trump would like to be a dictator if re-elected. Miller, who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election, recalling Trump's racist tendencies and inappropriate behavior during the Miss USA pageant. As the release date of the film approaches, Abbasi has expressed concern over how the film will be received and its implications for freedom of speech in the United States. The filmmakers are aware that their portrayal of Trump could provoke strong reactions, both positive and negative, from audiences and critics alike. [d945724b][b6f51172][5936d3ef][21e0a4a5]