The much-anticipated biographical film about former President Donald Trump, titled “The Apprentice” and featuring Sebastian Stan in the lead role, has finally secured a distributor. After its initial debut at the Cannes Film Festival, where it struggled to generate significant buzz, Briarcliff Entertainment has stepped in to release the movie. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in the U.S. and Canada on October 11, just ahead of the November elections.

Directed by the Danish-Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi, “The Apprentice” aims to provide a detailed account of Trump’s early years in New York real estate, particularly under the mentorship of the notorious defense attorney Roy Cohn, portrayed by Jeremy Strong. Abbasi has been vocal about his desire to have the film released before voters go to the polls, even expressing his frustration on social media about what he perceives as attempts by powerful figures to suppress the film’s release.

One of the major challenges facing “The Apprentice” has been the looming threat of legal action. Following its premiere at Cannes in May, Trump’s reelection campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the film as “pure fiction” and announced plans to sue over what he described as “blatantly false assertions.” A particularly controversial scene in the movie depicts Trump raping his first wife, Ivana Trump, based on her 1990 divorce deposition in which she claimed he had raped her. Although Trump denied the allegation and Ivana later clarified that she did not mean it literally but felt violated, the scene has stirred significant controversy.

Despite these challenges, Abbasi remains optimistic and even suggested that Trump might find some aspects of the film intriguing. He offered to arrange a private screening and discussion with Trump or his campaign team to provide context and address any concerns they might have.

Briarcliff Entertainment, known for distributing films such as the 2022 documentary “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down” and the Liam Neeson thriller “Memory,” is spearheaded by Tom Ortenberg. Ortenberg has a notable track record in the industry, having previously worked at Lionsgate on Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” and supporting the best-picture winner “Spotlight” as CEO of Open Road.

In addition to his political career and reality TV fame from “The Apprentice,” Donald Trump has made numerous cameo appearances in films and TV shows over the years. According to IMDB, he has 26 acting credits to his name, often playing himself. Some of these cameos include:

– **”Ghosts Can’t Do It” (1989):** Trump appeared as himself and even won a Razzie Award in 1991 for worst supporting actor.
– **”Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992):** Trump delivered a brief line directing Kevin McCallister down the hall.
– **”The Little Rascals” (1994):** He played Waldo’s father, with a short role answering a phone call.
– **”Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart” (1995):** Another cameo as himself in this made-for-TV movie.
– **”NightMan” (1997):** Trump appeared in two episodes during the 1997 season.
– **”Spin City” (1998):** In an episode of “Spin City,” he played himself, brought in by Michael J. Fox’s character to advise the mayor.

These appearances highlight Trump’s longstanding presence in popular culture long before his tenure as President of the United States.