The Apprentice’s Jeremy Strong And Sebastian Stan Explain Why The Movie Isn’t Political, Despite Trump Character

The Apprentice’s Jeremy Strong And Sebastian Stan Explain Why The Movie Isn’t Political, Despite Trump Character

As a film enthusiast with a keen interest in biopics and political dramas, I find myself intrigued by the upcoming release of “The Apprentice.” Having followed the careers of Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong for quite some time, their involvement in this project piqued my curiosity from the very beginning.


In the upcoming 2024 film lineup, there’s a film causing quite a stir – it’s called “The Apprentice“. Interestingly, this film is set to premiere mere weeks before the U.S. electorate chooses between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. However, Sebastian Stan, who plays a young Trump in the movie, along with his co-star Jeremy Strong, assert that the film itself steers clear of politics.

The film adaptation of “The Apprentice” has been under development since 2018 during Donald Trump’s presidency. However, it wasn’t until last autumn that the movie was actually filmed. Jeremy Strong, who is widely recognized for his role in “Succession”, portrays American lawyer Roy Cohn alongside Stan’s portrayal of Trump in the film. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Strong expressed these views about the project:

The film focuses on two regular individuals, neither of whom are portrayed as antagonists or mythical creatures. It seems the creators aren’t intending to depict them negatively. Instead, it appears their goal is to delve into their origins and explore how they evolved into the characters we see on screen.

The TV show, The Apprentice, is set in Donald Trump’s early career days in business. It is said to delve into his relationship with Cohn, who was a notable New York City prosecutor, famously associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the later stages of the Second Red Scare.

In an interview, Sebastian Stan, who put on 20 pounds for the role of Trump, shared his insights regarding the movie as well.

In certain aspects, it could be considered a tale of affection. One thing that particularly stood out to me was when [Jeremy] mentioned at the start, “I am portraying a character named Roy, and you are portraying a character named Donald.

Recently, “The Apprentice” has found itself at the center of controversy. For one reason, Donald Trump has declared his intention to take legal action against the film, labeling its content as “outright malicious defamation.” In response, the director Ali Abbasi expressed that he doubts Trump would have a problem with the movie and has extended an invitation for a meeting with the former president. He also offered to screen the film for him and engage in a discussion following the viewing.

Regarding the controversy, one of the film’s major financiers, Dan Synder, who is also acquainted with Trump, donated $1.1 million towards production, hoping it would portray him favorably. However, he was reportedly enraged by the final version of the movie and attempted unsuccessfully to alter certain scenes according to his preferences.

The movie is said to portray an incident from 1989 where Trump, played by Maria Bakalova, is shown allegedly assaulting his first wife Ivana. Ivana initially claimed this took place as rape. However, Trump denies these accusations. In 2015, Ivana modified her statement, saying that while they had a physical relationship during their marriage, on one particular occasion she felt violated because Trump’s behavior was significantly different from what it was during their marriage. Sadly, Ivana passed away in 2022.

This year, “The Apprentice” made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival to a lengthy 11-minute standing ovation and favorable criticism from critics. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Strong expressed his view that the film primarily explores the dynamic between Cohn and Trump and is not fundamentally a political movie. He stated:

This film isn’t instructing you on who to vote for… Whether you’re supportive or critical of Trump, I believe this movie delves into the origins of his perspective, encompassing his moral, philosophical, and ethical foundations. And I think these aspects touch us all in some way.

Although it might be challenging to disentangle Trump from politics, as suggested by those involved in the movie, this film doesn’t take a political stance itself. To witness the narrative they’re conveying, you can catch The Apprentice in theaters on October 11.

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2024-10-06 17:38