Donald Trump has been making persistent attempts, albeit unsuccessful, to halt the release of an upcoming movie based on his life, aptly named The Apprentice. The film has sparked controversy, but its director maintains that it is not intended to be a hit piece. The Apprentice traces Donald Trump’s (played by Sebastian Stan) meteoric rise as a real estate mogul and also delves into his personal life, including a highly contentious scene depicting his alleged rape of his former wife Ivana (portrayed by Maria Bakalova). Despite the provocative nature of the film, the director, Ali Abbasi, asserts that it should not be labeled a “political hit piece.”

During the U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, Ali Abbasi, an Iranian-Danish filmmaker, emphasized that the movie is not merely a political weapon. He brings an outsider’s perspective to the narrative and its controversial subject matter: “I have allowed myself as a non-American to take a deep look into this country and system.” Abbasi views The Apprentice as a broader commentary on American society rather than a targeted attack on Trump. He explained, “On a more serious note, at least for myself … this is not a political hit piece. This is a mirror…and it is intended to show you, as mirrors do, an image of yourselves, not you per se, but you as a community.”

The premiere featured light-hearted moments, with Abbasi joking about having reserved seats for a special guest and his two security guards, hinting that Trump might still “arrive in the dark, you never know.” The smooth premiere suggests that The Apprentice is moving forward as planned for its scheduled release.

Despite ongoing efforts by Donald Trump’s legal team to block the film, The Apprentice is set to hit theaters on October 11 in the U.S., distributed by Briarcliff Entertainment. A mid-October international release is also confirmed. Alongside Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Trump, Jeremy Strong from Succession plays Roy Cohn, a notorious prosecutor and political fixer who significantly influenced Trump’s early career. The official synopsis describes The Apprentice as an exploration of the darker aspects of the American empire, charting young Donald Trump’s ascent through a Faustian deal with the influential right-wing lawyer Roy Cohn.

A significant reason behind Trump’s attempts to stop The Apprentice is its release timing, just a month before U.S. elections begin. While it’s unlikely that the film alone would determine the election outcome, it clearly does not cast Trump’s past life and career in a flattering light. The Apprentice aims to present a candid portrayal that will be at the forefront of audiences’ minds during the crucial election period.

The film is currently slated for a mid-October theatrical release.