Jeremy Strong Defends Playing The ‘Despicable’ Roy Cohn in Trump Biopic

Jeremy Strong Defends Playing The 'Despicable' Roy Cohn in Trump Biopic

As a seasoned film critic who has watched his fair share of biopics and political dramas, I must say that “The Apprentice” is shaping up to be a truly captivating and thought-provoking cinematic experience. The casting choices are spot on, with Sebastian Stan embodying the brash confidence of a young Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong bringing to life the dark and complex character of Roy Cohn.


It appears that Donald Trump is not keen on the upcoming movie adaptation of his life, titled “The Apprentice,” hitting the big screen. The film features Sebastian Stan portraying a younger version of Donald J. Trump, while Jeremy Strong takes on the role of Roy Cohn, a questionable prosecutor and political advisor who significantly influenced Trump during his early career. The relationship between these two characters forms the core of the story, serving as an origin tale for Trump and, in many ways, reflecting the current state of the nation. Strong, who is also known for his role in “Succession,” describes taking on the role of Cohn as playing one of the most reprehensible figures of the last century.

During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (as reported by The Daily Beast), Jeremy Strong described Roy Cohn as “one of the most reprehensible individuals of the 20th century.” He even went so far as to call him a “demonic Peter Pan who never matured,” which is quite an intriguing and unusual way to portray someone. However, when confronted with criticism that The Apprentice was humanizing Trump and Cohn by making them too relatable, Strong disagreed. In his view, The Apprentice did not aim solely to create a caricature of these contentious figures; instead, it intended to reflect their true nature and the society in which they lived.

In my opinion, Director Ali Abbassai aimed to reflect the essence of humanity, reflect ourselves and our society through this movie. I don’t believe it’s a political statement. It doesn’t tell you who to vote for or what side to take. Instead, it delves into these characters, treating them as genuine human beings – something we often fail to do. We tend to label, stereotype, and ridicule these individuals instead.

The Apprentice Nearly Got Banned

Jeremy Strong Defends Playing The 'Despicable' Roy Cohn in Trump BiopicJeremy Strong Defends Playing The 'Despicable' Roy Cohn in Trump BiopicJeremy Strong Defends Playing The 'Despicable' Roy Cohn in Trump BiopicJeremy Strong Defends Playing The 'Despicable' Roy Cohn in Trump Biopic

Although the makers of the movie “The Apprentice” claim it is not a “political attack“, Donald Trump and his legal team have expressed disagreement with this statement. Since its initial release, Trump has attempted to prohibit the film from being screened in U.S. theaters, or at least postpone its October release (just a month before the U.S. election). In a recent interview with Colbert, actor Jeremy Strong expressed concern that the “heavily charged” film almost did not make it to the big screen.

The film was heavily controversial. It almost faced a ban within our nation, which is unacceptable given the current times, but it came extremely close.

The movie titled “The Apprentice” is a heavy, contentious production, with one of its most debated scenes depicting Donald Trump allegedly assaulting his ex-wife Ivana (portrayed by Maria Bakalova). Previews suggest that the forthcoming biopic subtly touches upon the origin of the Trump persona, including the “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan. It’s not surprising that the ex-president, now convicted, sought to prohibit the film during the election period. Here is a summary of the movie:

As a movie reviewer, I’d put it this way: “Step into the shadows of power with me, as I delve into ‘The Apprentice.’ This gripping tale unfolds the meteoric rise of Donald Trump, a young tycoon, who strikes a pact with the enigmatic mastermind, Roy Cohn – a powerful right-wing attorney and political manipulator. It’s a captivating journey through the backrooms of American power.

The Apprentice
is set to release in theaters this October.

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2024-09-19 19:01