Summary
New reports suggest that Sebastian Stan’s Donald Trump biopicThe Apprenticeis facing difficulties securing a US release. Directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi,The Apprenticesees Stan assume the role of a young Donald Trump during his early career in 1980s New York. Having recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, early reactions have praised both the movie’s script and the performances of Stan and his co-star Jeremy Strong, who plays Trump’s former mentor Roy Cohn. Currently,The Apprenticeis enjoying largely positive reviews, earning a 78% fresh rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
According toPuck’sMatthew Belloni, however,the movie has still yet to land an official US distributordespite its largely positive reception and already being picked up in various overseas markets, with many international rights quietly pre-sold almost two years ago. This also comes on the heels of Trump’s lawyer David Warrington addressing a previous cease and desist notice to Abbasi and screenwriter Gabriel Sherman describing the biopic as “direct foreign interference in America’s elections.”
Are US Distributors Too Scared To Pick Up The Apprentice?
The Movie Has Already Been The Source Of Some Controversy.
Nonetheless, with threats of potential legal action, combined with the already heightened atmosphere surrounding Trump’s legal woes and re-election campaign, some distributors may instead opt to play things safe by avoiding the movie at least until the outcome of November’s election is determined.
While the brief period sinceThe Apprentice’sofficial May 20 premiere at Cannesmay still be too early for all potential US distributorsto even screen the movie, let alone decide to pick it up, its success in already finding international distributors is decidedly curious. Given the looming presidential election in November, most audiences would expect that the movie’s subject would naturally attract a great deal of media attention and interested audiences on all sides of the political spectrum.
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Between a 3.5-hour World War II movie and a low-budget British period piece, it’s impossible to tell which biopic will become a phenomenal success.
Though it seems clear thatTrump’s legal team is none too pleasedwith how the former president is represented in Abbasi’s movie, initial reviews forThe Apprenticehave suggested that Sherman’s script has attempted to frame its subject impartially. Nonetheless, with threats of potential legal action, combined with the already heightened atmosphere surrounding Trump’s legal woes and re-election campaign, some distributors may instead opt to play things safe by avoiding the movie at least until the outcome of November’s election is determined.
Whether a US distributor will step in to snap up the American distribution rights before then remains to be seen, but if one does, thecontroversy surroundingThe Apprenticemay still prompt them to hold off from announcing an official US release date until much later. Nonetheless, other international audiences are clearly interested in seeing Stan try his hand at playing one of modern history’s most recognizable and polarizing political figures asThe Apprenticebegins making its way into theaters worldwide.
The Apprentice
Cast
The Apprentice depicts a young Donald Trump in 1970s New York, highlighting his formative relationship with Roy Cohn, a ruthless attorney. As Trump seeks to establish his own legacy, Cohn identifies him as an ideal protégé, drawn to his ambition and determination to succeed at any cost.
