A new movie depicting Donald Trump’s early career is hitting theaters this fall despite facing challenges finding distribution. The film, titled “The Apprentice,” tells the story of Trump’s rise in the New York real estate world in the 1970s and 1980s under Roy Cohn’s guidance. Sebastian Stan plays Trump and Jeremy Strong plays Cohn.
The movie, directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Reviews were mixed, but the film struggled to find companies willing to show it to wide audiences. Abbasi believes legal threats and fears of angering viewers influenced these decisions. He said companies may worry about losing customers who disagree with the movie’s portrayal of Trump.
The former president’s team sent a cease-and-desist letter after the premiere, consistent with Trump’s litigious past. Meanwhile, billionaire Dan Snyder, involved with the film’s finance company, allegedly tried blocking its release. Showing controversial events like Trump’s alleged assault on ex-wife Ivana Trump also concerned distributors.
Despite the hurdles, “The Apprentice” will open nationwide on October 11 after Briarcliff Entertainment acquired it. The filmmakers launched a Kickstarter to raise $100,000 for promotion. Sherman says the film’s goal isn’t political influence, but to serve as a character study and glimpse of 1970s-80s New York. However, both Trump supporters and liberal Hollywood friends have criticized it.
Abbasi and Sherman hope audiences keep an open mind about their dramatization of Trump’s early days. As the movie hits more theaters, debates are likely to continue about separating art from politics and exploring historical figures through popular culture.
