“The Apprentice,” a gripping cinematic portrayal of Donald Trump’s early career, is poised to make waves as it hits theaters on October 11, just weeks before the US presidential election. This timely release follows its buzzworthy premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it captured significant attention.

Briarcliff Entertainment, spearheaded by Tom Ortenberg—known for producing the acclaimed biographical crime drama “Spotlight”—secured the film’s US distribution. Plans are already in motion for an awards campaign, highlighting the film’s potential impact and relevance.

Sebastian Stan, widely recognized for his roles in Marvel movies, takes on the role of a young Donald Trump. The film delves into Trump’s ascent in the cutthroat world of New York real estate, under the mentorship of the formidable lawyer and political strategist Roy Cohn, portrayed by Jeremy Strong of “Succession” fame.

The screenplay, penned by Vanity Fair journalist Gabriel Sherman, is brought to life under the direction of Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi. Abbasi’s passion for the project is evident; he expressed his frustration on social media following the film’s Cannes debut, lamenting that major studios and distributors in the US had initially overlooked the project. He wrote: “For some reason certain power people in your country don’t want you to see it!!!”

Despite these initial setbacks, “The Apprentice” had already secured distribution in Canada, Europe, and parts of Asia before Briarcliff Entertainment stepped in. The film doesn’t shy away from controversial topics, featuring scenes of “rape, erectile dysfunction, baldness, and betrayal,” which have already sparked considerable debate.

The Trump campaign has vehemently criticized the film’s release, labeling it as “election interference by Hollywood elites right before November.” Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung described the film as “pure malicious defamation” and suggested it was unworthy of even a bargain bin at a discount movie store.

In May, Trump’s legal team issued a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers, condemning the movie as “direct foreign interference in America’s elections” and threatening legal action if distribution and marketing were not halted immediately.

Ironically, one of the film’s financial backers was billionaire Trump supporter Dan Snyder. Snyder initially believed the biopic would paint a favorable picture of Trump but reportedly was furious upon viewing a cut of the film in February, feeling betrayed by its portrayal.

“The Apprentice” promises to be a polarizing yet captivating exploration of Donald Trump’s formative years, arriving at a critical juncture in American politics.