Donald Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice’ sets pre-election release date

In a move likely to stir political and public discourse, the biopic “The Apprentice,” which dramatizes Donald Trump’s ascension in New York City’s real estate market and his relationship with influential political figure Roy Cohn, is set for an October 11 release, just weeks before the presidential election. This strategic timing has been confirmed by a source familiar with the deal.

Briarcliff Entertainment, an independent film distributor known for tackling provocative subjects, will handle the film’s release. The movie features Sebastian Stan in the role of Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong, known for his work in “Succession,” portraying Roy Cohn, a key mentor to Trump during his early career.

Premiering at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May, “The Apprentice” immediately ignited a firestorm of controversy. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung vehemently criticized the film, describing it as “pure malicious defamation.” He indicated that legal action was being considered to address what he termed “blatantly false assertions” made by the filmmakers, though it remains uncertain if a lawsuit has been filed.

One particularly contentious aspect of the film is its depiction of an alleged incident involving Trump and his first wife, Ivana Trump. The movie includes a dramatized scene in which Trump is accused of sexually assaulting Ivana, portrayed by Maria Bakalova. This allegation stems from Ivana Trump’s 1990 divorce deposition, where she accused Donald Trump of rape—a claim he denied. Ivana later clarified that her statement was not meant literally but expressed feelings of violation. Ivana Trump passed away in 2022.

Directed by Iranian Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi and penned by Vanity Fair journalist Gabriel Sherman, who has extensively covered Trump and his associates for over a decade, “The Apprentice” delves into the complex dynamics between Trump and Cohn. Roy Cohn, who passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1986 at the age of 59, consistently denied being HIV-positive.

Abbasi did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the Trump campaign’s statements. However, at Cannes, he suggested that Trump might find the film surprising. Abbasi even extended an invitation to meet with Trump for a screening and discussion about the film’s context.

Briarcliff Entertainment’s history of distributing controversial films includes “The Dissident,” a 2020 documentary about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and “Fahrenheit 11/9,” a 2018 documentary by Michael Moore examining the 2016 presidential election and the early years of Trump’s presidency.

The news of “The Apprentice” securing a distribution deal was initially reported by Puck, highlighting Briarcliff Entertainment’s continued commitment to bringing thought-provoking and contentious projects to audiences.