After facing challenges in generating interest following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the film “The Apprentice” starring Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump has found a distributor. Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired the rights to release the film in U.S. and Canadian theaters on October 11, just weeks before the November election. The director, Ali Abbasi, had been keen on getting the film out before the polls open and expressed frustration at larger studios not bidding on the film. The release date has sparked controversy, with the Trump campaign labeling it as “election interference by Hollywood elites.” Steven Cheung, communications director for the campaign, criticized the film as “pure malicious defamation” and called for its suppression.
The film “The Apprentice” portrays Trump’s ascension in New York real estate with the guidance of defense attorney Roy Cohn. A controversial scene late in the film depicts Trump raping his wife, Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova. This scene draws on Ivana Trump’s 1990 divorce deposition where she accused Trump of rape, a claim she later retracted, explaining that she had felt violated but did not mean it literally. Despite the potential backlash, Abbasi has suggested that Trump might not necessarily dislike the film and even offered to meet with him to discuss its context and themes. The contentious nature of the subject matter and the depiction of real events have only added fuel to the controversy surrounding the film’s release.
The criticism and threats of legal action from the Trump campaign have cast a shadow over “The Apprentice” since its Cannes premiere. Cheung labeled the movie as “pure fiction” and vowed to take legal action against the filmmakers for what he deemed as false assertions. This potential legal threat may have contributed to the lack of interest from larger studios and distributors. The film’s director, Abbasi, has been vocal about his desire to share the story and engage with audiences, even offering to dialogue with Trump himself about the film’s content. While the controversy has raised concerns about the intention and impact of releasing the film so close to the election, it has also sparked debates about artistic expression and freedom of speech.
Briarcliff Entertainment, the indie distributor behind the release of “The Apprentice,” has a track record of handling controversial and impactful films. Run by Tom Ortenberg, who has previously been involved in the distribution of award-winning and socially relevant movies, the company has taken the bold step of releasing “The Apprentice” despite the potential backlash. With a portfolio that includes documentaries and thrillers, Briarcliff Entertainment seems poised to navigate the storm of controversy surrounding the film’s release. As the countdown to the election begins, the release of “The Apprentice” is set to test the boundaries of political art and storytelling in a charged political climate.
The decision to release “The Apprentice” just before the election adds a layer of complexity to the already contentious political landscape in the U.S. The timing of the film’s release has drawn criticism from the Trump campaign, which views it as a deliberate attempt to sway public opinion before the election. The accusations of election interference by Hollywood elites highlight the intersection of entertainment, politics, and freedom of expression. As the film sparks debates and controversy, it also raises important questions about the role of art in shaping public discourse and holding power to account. With the release date fast approaching, the impact of “The Apprentice” on the political and cultural conversation in America remains uncertain.
