Briarcliff Entertainment has released the trailer Ali Abbasi’s upcoming controversial film The Apprentice, which details Donald Trump’s rise in the real-estate business. Briarcliff has scheduled the film to be released weeks before the U.S. Presidential Election on October 11. Additionally, the studio plans to give the movie an awards push. Movies about New York business are predominantly cutthroat and this one is no exception as it quick-cuts through a montage of chaos as Sebastian Stan as Trump builds his real estate empire with Jeremy Strong’s Roy Cohn guiding him along the way.
The Apprentice‘s story will follow the era of Trump’s life from his twenties through his late thirties. It will “examine his efforts to build his real estate business in New York over the course of the ’70s and ’80s, also digging into his relationship with infamous attorney Roy Cohn.” The film description also...
The Apprentice‘s story will follow the era of Trump’s life from his twenties through his late thirties. It will “examine his efforts to build his real estate business in New York over the course of the ’70s and ’80s, also digging into his relationship with infamous attorney Roy Cohn.” The film description also...
- 9/10/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Donald Trump learns the best-worst lessons in the world from his mentor Roy Cohn in the new trailer for the upcoming biopic, The Apprentice.
The film stars Sebastian Stan as a young Trump, and Jeremy Strong as Cohn, the infamous prosecutor and veteran of the McCarthy-era witchhunts who became a mentor to the budding real estate mogul. In the new trailer, Cohn takes Trump under his wing and teaches him his essential rules of always winning.
“The first rule is attack, attack, attack,” Cohn says. “Rule two, admit nothing,...
The film stars Sebastian Stan as a young Trump, and Jeremy Strong as Cohn, the infamous prosecutor and veteran of the McCarthy-era witchhunts who became a mentor to the budding real estate mogul. In the new trailer, Cohn takes Trump under his wing and teaches him his essential rules of always winning.
“The first rule is attack, attack, attack,” Cohn says. “Rule two, admit nothing,...
- 9/10/2024
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
How did Donald Trump become Donald Trump? That’s the basis of The Apprentice, a new film from Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi detailing Trump’s early years as a real estate developer and his relationship with mentor Roy Cohn.
Sebastian Stan plays the business mogul, while Jeremy Strong portrays Cohn and Maria Bakalova stars as Trump’s first wife, Ivana.
Upon its debut at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, Trump threatened legal action to block the wide release of The Apprentice. He specifically objected to scenes depicting him using amphetamines, undergoing liposuction and a hair transplant, and highlighting his business failures. Another scene shows Trump throwing Ivana to the ground and sexually assaulting her, based on an incident she described in a 1990 sworn deposition.
Like most of Trump’s legal threats, he never actually followed through with the lawsuit, and The Apprentice is now set to receive a...
Sebastian Stan plays the business mogul, while Jeremy Strong portrays Cohn and Maria Bakalova stars as Trump’s first wife, Ivana.
Upon its debut at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, Trump threatened legal action to block the wide release of The Apprentice. He specifically objected to scenes depicting him using amphetamines, undergoing liposuction and a hair transplant, and highlighting his business failures. Another scene shows Trump throwing Ivana to the ground and sexually assaulting her, based on an incident she described in a 1990 sworn deposition.
Like most of Trump’s legal threats, he never actually followed through with the lawsuit, and The Apprentice is now set to receive a...
- 9/10/2024
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Film News
Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice released its first trailer on Tuesday ahead of the much-discussed movie’s October release.
The film, from director Ali Abbasi and writer Gabriel Sherman, follows Sebastian Stan as a young Trump under the mentorship of Jeremy Strong’s Roy Cohn.
In the trailer, Trump and Cohn are shown meeting, with Trump saying to his future mentor after he introduces himself, “The Roy Cohn? You’re brutal.”
“Guilty as charged,” Cohn replies.
Later, when Trump asks how Cohn “always wins,” Cohn shares his rules for victory.
“Attack, attack, attack; admit nothing, deny everything; no matter what happens, you claim victory and never admit defeat,” Cohn says. He later adds, “You have to be willing to do anything to anyone to win.”
Cohn’s instructions play over a montage of Trump working on (and hyping up) new buildings and attending glitzy events with Maria Bakalova’s Ivana Trump.
The film, from director Ali Abbasi and writer Gabriel Sherman, follows Sebastian Stan as a young Trump under the mentorship of Jeremy Strong’s Roy Cohn.
In the trailer, Trump and Cohn are shown meeting, with Trump saying to his future mentor after he introduces himself, “The Roy Cohn? You’re brutal.”
“Guilty as charged,” Cohn replies.
Later, when Trump asks how Cohn “always wins,” Cohn shares his rules for victory.
“Attack, attack, attack; admit nothing, deny everything; no matter what happens, you claim victory and never admit defeat,” Cohn says. He later adds, “You have to be willing to do anything to anyone to win.”
Cohn’s instructions play over a montage of Trump working on (and hyping up) new buildings and attending glitzy events with Maria Bakalova’s Ivana Trump.
- 9/10/2024
- by Zoe G. Phillips and Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Apprentice is crashing onto the scene fast with a kind of bad boy reputation already. A Donald Trump-supporting investor tried to get the movie shut down, and the ex-president himself reportedly wanted it buried. Nevertheless, Ali Abbasi's The Apprentice persisted, and the film—starring Sebastian Stan and...
- 9/10/2024
- by Mary Kate Carr
- avclub.com
Perhaps he should have taken some lessons when the time was right. There’s a new report that suggests Donald Trump can’t help but feel locked out, or rather, shut out by his own wife, Melania Trump and their son, Barron Trump.
Donald Trump – Locked Out By Melania And Barron Trump
That’s because they often speak Slovenian to one another and unfortunately, Donald does not understand a word of his wife’s native language. Barron, however, is fluent as he’s grown up speaking Slovenian to his mother and grandparents.
In fact, Donald himself even said that it bothered him a lot when he couldn’t figure out what his wife and son were saying during their conversations.
One source close to the situation even put it this way, “There’s a unit within the family unit, and it’s Melania, her mother, her father, and Barron. And they all speak Slovenian.
Donald Trump – Locked Out By Melania And Barron Trump
That’s because they often speak Slovenian to one another and unfortunately, Donald does not understand a word of his wife’s native language. Barron, however, is fluent as he’s grown up speaking Slovenian to his mother and grandparents.
In fact, Donald himself even said that it bothered him a lot when he couldn’t figure out what his wife and son were saying during their conversations.
One source close to the situation even put it this way, “There’s a unit within the family unit, and it’s Melania, her mother, her father, and Barron. And they all speak Slovenian.
- 9/8/2024
- by Maya Jimenez
- Celebrating The Soaps
Plot: A depiction of the early days of Donald Trump’s (Sebastian Stan) business empire and how his friendship with Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) paved the way for his rise to power.
Review: The Apprentice is one of those movies everyone seems to have an opinion about, regardless of whether they’ve seen it or not. Indeed, only a privileged group who saw it at Cannes and Telluride can really say what it is or isn’t, and now, thanks to a special, invite-only surprise screening at TIFF (where it’s not playing as part of the official selection), you can add JoBlo to that list.
So, I walked into The Apprentice expecting a dark, political drama akin to the work of Oliver Stone. This isn’t that movie, with director Ali Abbasi making this a somewhat apolitical work. Trump’s foray into politics isn’t mentioned beyond one or...
Review: The Apprentice is one of those movies everyone seems to have an opinion about, regardless of whether they’ve seen it or not. Indeed, only a privileged group who saw it at Cannes and Telluride can really say what it is or isn’t, and now, thanks to a special, invite-only surprise screening at TIFF (where it’s not playing as part of the official selection), you can add JoBlo to that list.
So, I walked into The Apprentice expecting a dark, political drama akin to the work of Oliver Stone. This isn’t that movie, with director Ali Abbasi making this a somewhat apolitical work. Trump’s foray into politics isn’t mentioned beyond one or...
- 9/6/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Celebrity divorces last longer than celebrity marriages, and perhaps afford the public more sheer entertainment. Hearing about the clashing of egos, the mutual narcissism, the profligacy — it all makes us rather relieved to be living our littler, more anonymous lives.
“It’s easy to get into a marriage,” a Californian lawyer said, rubbing his hands with glee, “and very difficult to get out of one.” Love curdles into hatred, and soon enough it’s like the Wild West.
Currently, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, who said “I do” two years ago in Las Vegas, are hiring their attack dogs, i.e. their expensive attorneys, to argue about ownership of a $60 million-plus house in Beverly Hills, which has twelve bedrooms and twenty-four bathrooms.
Affleck earned $38 million last year — Jennifer might want a piece of that. Will she keep the $5 million engagement ring? There is much additional community property – a “bachelor pad” in Brentwood,...
“It’s easy to get into a marriage,” a Californian lawyer said, rubbing his hands with glee, “and very difficult to get out of one.” Love curdles into hatred, and soon enough it’s like the Wild West.
Currently, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, who said “I do” two years ago in Las Vegas, are hiring their attack dogs, i.e. their expensive attorneys, to argue about ownership of a $60 million-plus house in Beverly Hills, which has twelve bedrooms and twenty-four bathrooms.
Affleck earned $38 million last year — Jennifer might want a piece of that. Will she keep the $5 million engagement ring? There is much additional community property – a “bachelor pad” in Brentwood,...
- 9/5/2024
- by Roger Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Apprentice bandwagon has rolled into Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Screen has confirmed Briarcliff Entertainment has scheduled a private screening at the festival on Thursday evening.
The Donald Trump feature directed by Ali Abbasi arrives from Telluride Film Festival where it played to a packed house days after Briarcliff set an October 11 release in the United States, a little over three weeks before Trump will contest the US presidential election on November 5.
It screens at 7pm local time at TIFF Lightbox for press and tastemakers.
On Wednesday the film’s producers said they had surpassed within 12 hours the initial...
The Donald Trump feature directed by Ali Abbasi arrives from Telluride Film Festival where it played to a packed house days after Briarcliff set an October 11 release in the United States, a little over three weeks before Trump will contest the US presidential election on November 5.
It screens at 7pm local time at TIFF Lightbox for press and tastemakers.
On Wednesday the film’s producers said they had surpassed within 12 hours the initial...
- 9/4/2024
- ScreenDaily
Yesterday, the filmmakers behind Donald Trump movie The Apprentice launched a Kickstarter campaign to assist with the October theatrical release of the film with a goal of raising $100,000. A day later, it has already topped that goal, raising more than $139,000 for the campaign, dubbed “Release The Apprentice.”
A Kickstarter campaign is not the go-to move for a splashy, albeit independently financed, feature with award-winning stars like Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, and a debut at the Cannes Film Festival. But The Apprentice has had a long and embattled journey to get to theaters.
Since the film’s festival debut, its potential release has been mired in uncertainty. Dan Snyder, the pro-Trump billionaire, is involved with Kinematics, the company that put up equity for the film against domestic rights. Snyder was reportedly was displeased with the film’s depiction of Trump and sought to block its release. After the film’s Cannes debut,...
A Kickstarter campaign is not the go-to move for a splashy, albeit independently financed, feature with award-winning stars like Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, and a debut at the Cannes Film Festival. But The Apprentice has had a long and embattled journey to get to theaters.
Since the film’s festival debut, its potential release has been mired in uncertainty. Dan Snyder, the pro-Trump billionaire, is involved with Kinematics, the company that put up equity for the film against domestic rights. Snyder was reportedly was displeased with the film’s depiction of Trump and sought to block its release. After the film’s Cannes debut,...
- 9/4/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Boy, y'all must really like Sebastian Stan, huh?
That's the only logical takeaway we can get from news that the just-launched Kickstarter campaign for Stan's new movie The Apprentice—in which the Captain America favorite plays Donald Trump, opposite Succession's Jeremy Strong as mentor Roy Cohn—hit its funding...
That's the only logical takeaway we can get from news that the just-launched Kickstarter campaign for Stan's new movie The Apprentice—in which the Captain America favorite plays Donald Trump, opposite Succession's Jeremy Strong as mentor Roy Cohn—hit its funding...
- 9/4/2024
- by William Hughes
- avclub.com
Triumph, starring and produced by Maria Bakalova, a 2021 Oscar acting nominee for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, will be Bulgaria‘s International Feature Film submission for the 2025 Academy Awards.
The darkly comedic movie by award-winning Bulgarian filmmakers Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov was selected after a unanimous vote by the country’s selection committee ahead of Triumph‘s world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival later this week.
Grozeva and Valchanov’s previous film, The Father, which featured a cameo by Bakalova, became Bulgaria’s 2021 International Oscar entry after winning the Grand Prix at the 2019 Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
Triumph is the last part of a movie trilogy by Grozeva and Valchanov that includes the 2014 The Lesson, also a TIFF selection, and 2016’s Glory. It marks Bakalova’s return to Bulgarian cinema and the first film she did in her native country following her breakout role in Borat 2, which launched her Hollywood career.
The darkly comedic movie by award-winning Bulgarian filmmakers Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov was selected after a unanimous vote by the country’s selection committee ahead of Triumph‘s world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival later this week.
Grozeva and Valchanov’s previous film, The Father, which featured a cameo by Bakalova, became Bulgaria’s 2021 International Oscar entry after winning the Grand Prix at the 2019 Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
Triumph is the last part of a movie trilogy by Grozeva and Valchanov that includes the 2014 The Lesson, also a TIFF selection, and 2016’s Glory. It marks Bakalova’s return to Bulgarian cinema and the first film she did in her native country following her breakout role in Borat 2, which launched her Hollywood career.
- 9/4/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been a hell of a ride so far for the producers of controversial Donald Trump movie The Apprentice.
The movie about Trump’s rise to power debuted to acclaim at Cannes but became bogged down by legal threats from the former President who took exception to the material. Then producers had to deal with main financier Kinematics — backed by Trump supporter Dan Snyder — wanting to exit the movie. All this got in the way of the team securing domestic distribution (which is now set with Briarcliff for an October 11 release). You can check out the backstory here.
Just now we had a chat with Dan Bekerman, one of the lead producers on the project, about the turbulent recent months and what’s to come for the film. Bekerman and other producers had been unable to speak publicly until the impasse with the film’s financier Kinematics was resolved.
The movie about Trump’s rise to power debuted to acclaim at Cannes but became bogged down by legal threats from the former President who took exception to the material. Then producers had to deal with main financier Kinematics — backed by Trump supporter Dan Snyder — wanting to exit the movie. All this got in the way of the team securing domestic distribution (which is now set with Briarcliff for an October 11 release). You can check out the backstory here.
Just now we had a chat with Dan Bekerman, one of the lead producers on the project, about the turbulent recent months and what’s to come for the film. Bekerman and other producers had been unable to speak publicly until the impasse with the film’s financier Kinematics was resolved.
- 9/4/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The producers of the upcoming Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice have launched a Kickstarter campaign to boost the controversial film’s profile and tech — and keep it in theaters as long as possible.
Directed by Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice centers around the relationship between Trump (Sebastian Stan) and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the notorious prosecutor who mentored Trump in the dark arts of “deflection, trash-talking and tabloid ubiquity” (as Rolling Stone’s David Fear wrote in a review earlier this year). The Apprentice debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received generally positive reviews,...
Directed by Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice centers around the relationship between Trump (Sebastian Stan) and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the notorious prosecutor who mentored Trump in the dark arts of “deflection, trash-talking and tabloid ubiquity” (as Rolling Stone’s David Fear wrote in a review earlier this year). The Apprentice debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received generally positive reviews,...
- 9/3/2024
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Filmmakers of “The Apprentice,” a biographical drama in which Sebastian Stan portrays a young Donald Trump, are asking for money to bolster the film’s theatrical release.
In a highly unusual move, they launched a Kickstarter called “Release the Apprentice” to “keep the film in as many theaters for as long as possible,” according to a press release. The crowdfunding campaign features tiered reward levels based on donation amounts: $25 allows people to stream the film after it hits theaters, $100 grants donors a chance to see their name in a special section on the end credits. Higher level pledges include one of three actual toupees worn by Stan on-screen and VIP tickets to attend the film’s premiere in NYC.
“‘The Apprentice’ is first and foremost humanist, which makes it radically different from all the political noise,” said executive producer Amy Baer.
“Despite the integrity of the film and without even seeing it,...
In a highly unusual move, they launched a Kickstarter called “Release the Apprentice” to “keep the film in as many theaters for as long as possible,” according to a press release. The crowdfunding campaign features tiered reward levels based on donation amounts: $25 allows people to stream the film after it hits theaters, $100 grants donors a chance to see their name in a special section on the end credits. Higher level pledges include one of three actual toupees worn by Stan on-screen and VIP tickets to attend the film’s premiere in NYC.
“‘The Apprentice’ is first and foremost humanist, which makes it radically different from all the political noise,” said executive producer Amy Baer.
“Despite the integrity of the film and without even seeing it,...
- 9/3/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
The first clip from the Donald Trump biopic that left a startling, if controversial, mark on the 2024 Cannes Film Festival has finally arrived.
Ali Abbasi’s film The Apprentice stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, the notoriously dogged prosecutor who served as the real estate mogul/future president’s mentor. The film follows their relationship during the Seventies and Eighties, exploring the ways Cohn — a veteran of the McCarthy-era communist witch hunts — helped shape Trump into the bombastic, headline-grabbing, trash-talking master of deflection we...
Ali Abbasi’s film The Apprentice stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, the notoriously dogged prosecutor who served as the real estate mogul/future president’s mentor. The film follows their relationship during the Seventies and Eighties, exploring the ways Cohn — a veteran of the McCarthy-era communist witch hunts — helped shape Trump into the bombastic, headline-grabbing, trash-talking master of deflection we...
- 9/3/2024
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
A first look at Sebastian Stan portraying Donald Trump in the upcoming film The Apprentice has been unveiled.
The clip shows Sebastian as Trump alongside Jeremy Strong, who portrays Roy Cohn. In the clip, Cohn coaches Trump on what to say during an interview.
Keep reading to find out more…
Here’s the synopsis of the film, according to Variety: “Set in 1970s America, the movie centers around Trump’s relationship with Cohn, who served as Senator Joseph McCarthy’s chief counsel during the Army-McCarthy hearings. Cohn was thrust into the limelight as a prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice at the espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, leading to their execution in 1953.” Maria Bakalova”>Maria Bakalova stars as Trump‘s first wife Ivana.
The biopic, from director Ali Abbasi, will hit theaters on October 11. Sebastian also underwent a major transformation for another role.
Fresh from turn...
The clip shows Sebastian as Trump alongside Jeremy Strong, who portrays Roy Cohn. In the clip, Cohn coaches Trump on what to say during an interview.
Keep reading to find out more…
Here’s the synopsis of the film, according to Variety: “Set in 1970s America, the movie centers around Trump’s relationship with Cohn, who served as Senator Joseph McCarthy’s chief counsel during the Army-McCarthy hearings. Cohn was thrust into the limelight as a prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice at the espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, leading to their execution in 1953.” Maria Bakalova”>Maria Bakalova stars as Trump‘s first wife Ivana.
The biopic, from director Ali Abbasi, will hit theaters on October 11. Sebastian also underwent a major transformation for another role.
Fresh from turn...
- 9/3/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Sebastian Stan takes an interview as a young Donald Trump in the first footage released from “The Apprentice,” a biopic from director Ali Abbasi coming to theaters Oct. 11.
In the one-minute clip, Roy Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong) coaches Trump as he takes an interview over the phone with a reporter. “I intend to acquire the Commodore, and I’m planning on making it the best and the finest building in the city, maybe the country — in the world … it’s going to be the finest building in the world,” Stan says in a tempered voice that is far from a cartoonish impression of Trump. Strong, on his part, goes for Cohn’s nasally New York flare.
“The Apprentice,” which premiered May 20 at Cannes Film Festival, landed at Briarcliff Entertainment after struggling to find a buyer due to its controversial nature. Major Hollywood studios seemed to not want to touch the movie,...
In the one-minute clip, Roy Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong) coaches Trump as he takes an interview over the phone with a reporter. “I intend to acquire the Commodore, and I’m planning on making it the best and the finest building in the city, maybe the country — in the world … it’s going to be the finest building in the world,” Stan says in a tempered voice that is far from a cartoonish impression of Trump. Strong, on his part, goes for Cohn’s nasally New York flare.
“The Apprentice,” which premiered May 20 at Cannes Film Festival, landed at Briarcliff Entertainment after struggling to find a buyer due to its controversial nature. Major Hollywood studios seemed to not want to touch the movie,...
- 9/3/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
In a landscape where South Indian cinema is reaching new heights, Ags Entertainment is poised to make its mark with its most ambitious project to date. “The Greatest of All Time” (“Goat”), starring megastar Vijay, is the company’s 25th production.
Archana Kalpathi, CEO of Chennai, Tamil Nadu-based, Ags Entertainment and creative producer of “Goat,” sat down with Variety to discuss this high-stakes venture, the company’s strategic vision, and her perspective on the current golden age of South Indian filmmaking.
The action thriller, directed by Venkat Prabhu (“Maanaadu”), features Vijay as an agent with Indian intelligence agency Raw (Research and Analysis Wing) entangled in a mission that spirals into a years-long saga. With its pan-Indian release strategy and significant overseas potential, Goat represents a new frontier for Ags. “It’s a proper action entertainer,” Kalpathi reveals.
“There’s a mission that goes wrong, and then after many years, it comes back to haunt them,...
Archana Kalpathi, CEO of Chennai, Tamil Nadu-based, Ags Entertainment and creative producer of “Goat,” sat down with Variety to discuss this high-stakes venture, the company’s strategic vision, and her perspective on the current golden age of South Indian filmmaking.
The action thriller, directed by Venkat Prabhu (“Maanaadu”), features Vijay as an agent with Indian intelligence agency Raw (Research and Analysis Wing) entangled in a mission that spirals into a years-long saga. With its pan-Indian release strategy and significant overseas potential, Goat represents a new frontier for Ags. “It’s a proper action entertainer,” Kalpathi reveals.
“There’s a mission that goes wrong, and then after many years, it comes back to haunt them,...
- 9/3/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The Apprentice, the Donald Trump origin story that everyone in the film community and beyond has been talking and speculating about, had its North American premiere at the Telluride Film Festival’s Galaxy Theatre on Saturday night. The stateside unveiling comes three months after its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and just days after Briarcliff Entertainment acquired its U.S. distribution rights amid legal threats from the Trump campaign, with plans to release it in theaters on Oct. 11, less than a month before the presidential election.
Interest in the film among those who missed it on the Croisette has been through the roof, to the extent that Telluride’s 10 p.m. Saturday night screening — which was added to the fest’s schedule only a few hours before it took place — attracted a full house of 500 people, with many others turned away. Post-screening reactions were, not unexpectedly, divided. But...
Interest in the film among those who missed it on the Croisette has been through the roof, to the extent that Telluride’s 10 p.m. Saturday night screening — which was added to the fest’s schedule only a few hours before it took place — attracted a full house of 500 people, with many others turned away. Post-screening reactions were, not unexpectedly, divided. But...
- 9/1/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The movie “The Apprentice” will premiere in U.S. theaters on October 11, according to distributor Briarcliff Entertainment. The film tells the story of former President Donald Trump’s early business career. It stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as his mentor Roy Cohn.
“The Apprentice” generated a lot of buzz after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. However, the film’s release faced several challenges. Trump’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter threatening legal action. Daniel Snyder, a Trump supporter who helped finance the movie’s production company, also reportedly opposed releasing the film.
Trump’s campaign communications director Steven Cheung criticized “The Apprentice.” He said it presented “pure fiction” and an attempt to interfere in the upcoming election. Cheung called the movie undeserving of a “soon-to-be-closed discount movie store.”
Despite these obstacles, the film’s producers overcame hurdles to distribution in the U.S.
“The Apprentice” generated a lot of buzz after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. However, the film’s release faced several challenges. Trump’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter threatening legal action. Daniel Snyder, a Trump supporter who helped finance the movie’s production company, also reportedly opposed releasing the film.
Trump’s campaign communications director Steven Cheung criticized “The Apprentice.” He said it presented “pure fiction” and an attempt to interfere in the upcoming election. Cheung called the movie undeserving of a “soon-to-be-closed discount movie store.”
Despite these obstacles, the film’s producers overcame hurdles to distribution in the U.S.
- 9/1/2024
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
Exclusive: When it comes to The Apprentice film screening Saturday night at the Telluride Film Festival, Donald Trump has proved again to be all bluster, no bite.
The former president’s campaign may have sent out a vitriolic cease-and-desist letter earlier this year after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival and threatened legal action against the Ali Abbasi-directed and Gabriel Sherman-written movie, but they’ve done nothing since.
In late May, Trump’s Dhillon Law Group attorneys gave the Apprentice filmmakers until May 27 to essentially shut down anyone ever seeing their acclaimed film in America. Calling the Canadian-, Irish- and U.S.-funded flick “a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in America’s elections,” the Alexandra, Va-based lawyers swore that if the movie did “not immediately cease and desist all distribution and marketing of this libelous farce,” then Team...
The former president’s campaign may have sent out a vitriolic cease-and-desist letter earlier this year after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival and threatened legal action against the Ali Abbasi-directed and Gabriel Sherman-written movie, but they’ve done nothing since.
In late May, Trump’s Dhillon Law Group attorneys gave the Apprentice filmmakers until May 27 to essentially shut down anyone ever seeing their acclaimed film in America. Calling the Canadian-, Irish- and U.S.-funded flick “a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in America’s elections,” the Alexandra, Va-based lawyers swore that if the movie did “not immediately cease and desist all distribution and marketing of this libelous farce,” then Team...
- 9/1/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The Apprentice, Ali Abbasi’s Cannes premiere which explores Donald Trump’s formative relationship with mentor Roy Cohn, is understood to have secured a US release through Briarcliff Entertainment on October 11, more than three weeks before the presidential election.
‘The Apprentice’: Cannes Review
Briarcliff, which was first linked to the film in June, is planning an awards push. CEO Tom Ortenberg is in Colorado for a sneak screening of the controversial drama on Saturday night (August 31) at Telluride Film Festival, which runs through September 2.
The Apprentice is scheduled to open in France through Metropolitan on October 9 and in the...
‘The Apprentice’: Cannes Review
Briarcliff, which was first linked to the film in June, is planning an awards push. CEO Tom Ortenberg is in Colorado for a sneak screening of the controversial drama on Saturday night (August 31) at Telluride Film Festival, which runs through September 2.
The Apprentice is scheduled to open in France through Metropolitan on October 9 and in the...
- 8/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Apprentice, Ali Abbasi’s Cannes premiere that explores Donald Trump’s formative relationship with fixer Roy Cohn, will open in the US on October 11 through Briarcliff Entertainment prior to the November presidential election, it is understood.
‘The Apprentice’: Cannes Review
Reports that Briarcliff, which was first linked to the film in June, is moving ahead with the release and planning an awards push came amid speculation on Friday that the controversial film might be a surprise screening at Telluride Film Festival, which kicks off today and runs through September 2.
Briarcliff and Telluride had not replied to inquiries at time of writing.
‘The Apprentice’: Cannes Review
Reports that Briarcliff, which was first linked to the film in June, is moving ahead with the release and planning an awards push came amid speculation on Friday that the controversial film might be a surprise screening at Telluride Film Festival, which kicks off today and runs through September 2.
Briarcliff and Telluride had not replied to inquiries at time of writing.
- 8/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Apprentice, Ali Abbasi’s Cannes premiere that explores Donald Trump’s formative relationship with fixer Roy Cohn, will open in the US on October 11 through Briarcliff Entertainment prior to the November presidential election, it is understood.
‘The Apprentice’: Cannes Review
Reports that Briarcliff, which was first linked to the film in June, is moving ahead with the release and planning an awards push came amid speculation on Friday that the controversial film might be a surprise screening at Telluride Film Festival, which kicks off today and runs through September 2.
Briarcliff and Telluride had not replied to inquiries at time of writing.
‘The Apprentice’: Cannes Review
Reports that Briarcliff, which was first linked to the film in June, is moving ahead with the release and planning an awards push came amid speculation on Friday that the controversial film might be a surprise screening at Telluride Film Festival, which kicks off today and runs through September 2.
Briarcliff and Telluride had not replied to inquiries at time of writing.
- 8/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
Trump biopic “The Apprentice” has finally been acquired by Tom Ortenberg’s Briarcliff Entertainment for domestic distribution — and is targeting a wide release before the election, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.
The film is eyeing an Oct. 11 release date. The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
James Shani, who is an executive producer on the project via his Rich Spirit banner, led the group that bought out Kinematics, backed by Dan Snyder, in acquiring the controversial film directed by Ali Abbasi, as TheWrap has previously reported. The move paved the way for “The Apprentice” to finally secure U.S. distribution after Snyder, a staunch conservative, wanted out of the movie.
Negotiations to buy out Kinematics’ stake have been ongoing since Cannes. The buyout gives Ali Abbasi creative control of the film.
“The Apprentice,” starring Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, had languished without a U.
The film is eyeing an Oct. 11 release date. The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
James Shani, who is an executive producer on the project via his Rich Spirit banner, led the group that bought out Kinematics, backed by Dan Snyder, in acquiring the controversial film directed by Ali Abbasi, as TheWrap has previously reported. The move paved the way for “The Apprentice” to finally secure U.S. distribution after Snyder, a staunch conservative, wanted out of the movie.
Negotiations to buy out Kinematics’ stake have been ongoing since Cannes. The buyout gives Ali Abbasi creative control of the film.
“The Apprentice,” starring Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, had languished without a U.
- 8/30/2024
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Ali Abbasi’s Donald Trump movie “The Apprentice” starring Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn will get a chance to help shape the 2024 presidential election.
“The Apprentice” has been acquired for U.S. distribution by Briarcliff Entertainment, which plans to release it in theaters ahead of the election on October 11, IndieWire has learned.
Abbasi’s film made its premiere in competition at Cannes to lukewarm reviews, even given the morbid-curiosity factor of seeing Trump’s rise to power — as well as it being an “Avengers” star who portrays the 45th president. In his review of “The Apprentice” out of Cannes, IndieWire critic David Ehrlich wrote that while the film generates an ounce of sympathy for Cohn and the “monster he helped create” in Trump, Trump as a character is too shallow to be dramatically interesting.
“Sometimes in broad strokes and sometimes with brutal specificity, ‘The Apprentice...
“The Apprentice” has been acquired for U.S. distribution by Briarcliff Entertainment, which plans to release it in theaters ahead of the election on October 11, IndieWire has learned.
Abbasi’s film made its premiere in competition at Cannes to lukewarm reviews, even given the morbid-curiosity factor of seeing Trump’s rise to power — as well as it being an “Avengers” star who portrays the 45th president. In his review of “The Apprentice” out of Cannes, IndieWire critic David Ehrlich wrote that while the film generates an ounce of sympathy for Cohn and the “monster he helped create” in Trump, Trump as a character is too shallow to be dramatically interesting.
“Sometimes in broad strokes and sometimes with brutal specificity, ‘The Apprentice...
- 8/30/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The controversial movie Donald Trump doesn’t want people to see is still being lined up for a pre-election release in the U.S.
The Apprentice, which made waves at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, is due for release stateside by Briarcliff, as we first reported. October 11 has been the date we’ve heard for a while now, but uncertainty has been fueled by a dispute with financier Kinematics, which is backed by Trump supporter Dan Snyder who reportedly took umbrage at the film’s depiction of the former Potus. The players have been inching towards a resolution and hopes are that it will be fully resolved in a matter of days.
The movie is due to roll out internationally from mid-late October with dates already set in multiple key markets. Last we heard, Kinematics was being bought out of the movie with its $5 million investment back and a premium of around $2M.
The Apprentice, which made waves at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, is due for release stateside by Briarcliff, as we first reported. October 11 has been the date we’ve heard for a while now, but uncertainty has been fueled by a dispute with financier Kinematics, which is backed by Trump supporter Dan Snyder who reportedly took umbrage at the film’s depiction of the former Potus. The players have been inching towards a resolution and hopes are that it will be fully resolved in a matter of days.
The movie is due to roll out internationally from mid-late October with dates already set in multiple key markets. Last we heard, Kinematics was being bought out of the movie with its $5 million investment back and a premium of around $2M.
- 8/30/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman and Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The Trump family comes as close to American royalty as one can get these days. They are wealthy, powerful, beautiful and yet in so many ways they are just like us.
No one has a perfect life and the Trump family epitomizes that sentiment. Here is what you need to know about how some of the Trump family marriages stack up.
Donald And Ivana Trump
Donald Trump’s first wife was the late Ivana Zelníčková. They met at a party in 1976 and married in 1977. They had three children together: Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric.
It’s not a secret that Donald was unfaithful during his marriage to Ivana. She was incredibly forthright about her life with the business mogul and that included his parenting style.
According to Ivana, her husband was only interested in his kids when they were talking about business. This seems to be a simple statement of fact coming from Ivana,...
No one has a perfect life and the Trump family epitomizes that sentiment. Here is what you need to know about how some of the Trump family marriages stack up.
Donald And Ivana Trump
Donald Trump’s first wife was the late Ivana Zelníčková. They met at a party in 1976 and married in 1977. They had three children together: Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric.
It’s not a secret that Donald was unfaithful during his marriage to Ivana. She was incredibly forthright about her life with the business mogul and that included his parenting style.
According to Ivana, her husband was only interested in his kids when they were talking about business. This seems to be a simple statement of fact coming from Ivana,...
- 8/4/2024
- by Tanya Clark
- Celebrating The Soaps
The Manhattan townhouse once owned by the late Ivana Trump continues to languish on the real estate market, with its asking price recently slashed for the second time since its initial listing in late 2022.
The residence, located on East 64th Street, is now offered at $19.5 million — a significant drop from its original $26.5 million price tag when it first hit the market just months after Trump’s passing in July 2022. This latest reduction follows a previous cut to $22.5 million last year.
The 8,725-square-foot property, which Trump acquired for $2.5 million in 1992 following her divorce from the former president, stands as a testament to her flamboyant taste and larger-than-life persona. Over three decades, the Czech-American businesswoman transformed the 17-room, five-bedroom townhouse into a showcase of maximalist design.
Eric Trump, son of the late socialite, previously told the Wall Street Journal that his mother “absolutely loved that house” and felt “so comfortable there.” The...
The residence, located on East 64th Street, is now offered at $19.5 million — a significant drop from its original $26.5 million price tag when it first hit the market just months after Trump’s passing in July 2022. This latest reduction follows a previous cut to $22.5 million last year.
The 8,725-square-foot property, which Trump acquired for $2.5 million in 1992 following her divorce from the former president, stands as a testament to her flamboyant taste and larger-than-life persona. Over three decades, the Czech-American businesswoman transformed the 17-room, five-bedroom townhouse into a showcase of maximalist design.
Eric Trump, son of the late socialite, previously told the Wall Street Journal that his mother “absolutely loved that house” and felt “so comfortable there.” The...
- 7/20/2024
- by Lauren Ramsey
- Uinterview
There are many, many reasons why Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will never be president.
For starters, his claim that a parasitic worm ate part of his brain is likely a deal breaker for a large segment of the American electorate, even if it does explain some of Kennedy’s wackier conspiracy theories, like the one about anti-depressants causing school shootings, or Covid-19 being a lab-created bioweapon “designed to target Caucasians and Black people” (while sparing Jews and Chinese). His head-scratching contention that Palestinians are “the most pampered people… in the history of the world” is also bound to turn off to a lot of voters, as is his assertion that industrial chemicals are causing “gender confusion” among today’s teenagers.
But the No. 1 reason that Rfk Jr. will never sit behind the Resolute Desk has nothing to do with any of the above. It’s that he supposedly once ate a dog.
For starters, his claim that a parasitic worm ate part of his brain is likely a deal breaker for a large segment of the American electorate, even if it does explain some of Kennedy’s wackier conspiracy theories, like the one about anti-depressants causing school shootings, or Covid-19 being a lab-created bioweapon “designed to target Caucasians and Black people” (while sparing Jews and Chinese). His head-scratching contention that Palestinians are “the most pampered people… in the history of the world” is also bound to turn off to a lot of voters, as is his assertion that industrial chemicals are causing “gender confusion” among today’s teenagers.
But the No. 1 reason that Rfk Jr. will never sit behind the Resolute Desk has nothing to do with any of the above. It’s that he supposedly once ate a dog.
- 7/8/2024
- by Benjamin Svetkey
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bill Maher stumped tonight on Real Time for the U.S. release of The Apprentice, the Cannes Competition title starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Emmy-winner Jeremy Strong as Trump’s onetime firebrand lawyer, Roy Cohn.
“It looks great,” said Maher before observing, “This is Trump’s origin story under the tutelage of Roy Cohn.”
The Real Time host continued, “It’s being released in Japan, Canada, the U.K., Germany, [but] no one here will touch it. It bothers me so much.”
Deadline reported earlier this month on the movie’s distribution deals: International sales firm Rocket Science has set deals for the film’s release in Italy (Bim), Spain (Vertigo Films), Scandinavia (Nordisk), Benelux (The Searchers), Greece (Odeon), Portugal (Lusomundo), Eastern Europe (M2), Japan (Kino), Latin America (Sun), Israel (Lev Cinema), Airlines (Skeye) and Australia & New Zealand (Madman). Deals were also made for the UK (Studio Canal), France (Metropolitan) and Germany,...
“It looks great,” said Maher before observing, “This is Trump’s origin story under the tutelage of Roy Cohn.”
The Real Time host continued, “It’s being released in Japan, Canada, the U.K., Germany, [but] no one here will touch it. It bothers me so much.”
Deadline reported earlier this month on the movie’s distribution deals: International sales firm Rocket Science has set deals for the film’s release in Italy (Bim), Spain (Vertigo Films), Scandinavia (Nordisk), Benelux (The Searchers), Greece (Odeon), Portugal (Lusomundo), Eastern Europe (M2), Japan (Kino), Latin America (Sun), Israel (Lev Cinema), Airlines (Skeye) and Australia & New Zealand (Madman). Deals were also made for the UK (Studio Canal), France (Metropolitan) and Germany,...
- 6/22/2024
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
“I think it’s time to make movies relevant,” said Ali Abbasi to the cheering crowd at the May 20 Cannes premiere of his Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. “It’s time to make movies political again.”
Hollywood doesn’t seem to be listening. Despite the enthusiastic response to The Apprentice internationally — the film, starring Sebastian Stan as Trump and Succession’s Jeremy Strong as his master-of-the-dark-arts political mentor Roy Cohn, has been sold in nearly every territory — the movie is still struggling to land a U.S. distributor. That’s despite, as Abbasi calls it, this fall’s “promotional event, the U.S. election,” that would seem to provide an ideal launchpad, and plenty of free publicity, for any domestic distributor.
A U.S. deal for The Apprentice is complicated by the fact that Kinematics, the company backed by pro-Trump billionaire Dan Snyder, put up equity for the film against...
Hollywood doesn’t seem to be listening. Despite the enthusiastic response to The Apprentice internationally — the film, starring Sebastian Stan as Trump and Succession’s Jeremy Strong as his master-of-the-dark-arts political mentor Roy Cohn, has been sold in nearly every territory — the movie is still struggling to land a U.S. distributor. That’s despite, as Abbasi calls it, this fall’s “promotional event, the U.S. election,” that would seem to provide an ideal launchpad, and plenty of free publicity, for any domestic distributor.
A U.S. deal for The Apprentice is complicated by the fact that Kinematics, the company backed by pro-Trump billionaire Dan Snyder, put up equity for the film against...
- 6/11/2024
- by Scott Roxborough and Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Aamir Khan’s son, Junaid Khan, is making headlines as he prepares to make his cinematic debut with “Maharaj,” set to release on Netflix on June 14. Following his father’s footsteps, Junaid has been dedicated to the craft of acting, having focused on theater since completing his education in dramatics in 2017.
Despite his promising background, Junaid’s journey to the big screen was not without challenges. An industry source revealed that Junaid faced seven rejections before landing his first significant role. “Junaid auditioned extensively but faced numerous rejections, including from his father’s home production ‘Laal Singh Chaddha.’ However, a producer discovered one of Junaid’s previous audition tapes and offered him an opportunity, albeit with certain conditions,” the source shared.
For his role in “Maharaj,” Junaid underwent a significant physical transformation, shedding 26 kilos over two years to fully embody his character. Filming began in February 2021 and wrapped up within eight months.
Despite his promising background, Junaid’s journey to the big screen was not without challenges. An industry source revealed that Junaid faced seven rejections before landing his first significant role. “Junaid auditioned extensively but faced numerous rejections, including from his father’s home production ‘Laal Singh Chaddha.’ However, a producer discovered one of Junaid’s previous audition tapes and offered him an opportunity, albeit with certain conditions,” the source shared.
For his role in “Maharaj,” Junaid underwent a significant physical transformation, shedding 26 kilos over two years to fully embody his character. Filming began in February 2021 and wrapped up within eight months.
- 6/9/2024
- by Desk Editorial
- GlamSham
Exclusive: The movie Donald Trump doesn’t want people to see is going global.
While intrigue continues to surround the film’s U.S. release prospects, Cannes Competition title The Apprentice, about Trump’s rise to power, has been sold to key independent distributors in a host of international markets where demand has been strong.
International sales firm Rocket Science has set deals for the film’s release in Italy (Bim), Spain (Vertigo Films), Scandinavia (Nordisk), Benelux (The Searchers), Greece (Odeon), Portugal (Lusomundo), Eastern Europe (M2), Japan (Kino), Latin America (Sun), Israel (Lev Cinema), Airlines (Skeye) and Australia & New Zealand (Madman).
Deals were recently announced for UK (Studio Canal), France (Metropolitan) and Germany, Austria & Switzerland (Dcm). Mongrel is releasing in Canada via a pact sealed by producers.
Some of these deals were set before Cannes while others were inked on the Croisette where the film debuted last month to largely...
While intrigue continues to surround the film’s U.S. release prospects, Cannes Competition title The Apprentice, about Trump’s rise to power, has been sold to key independent distributors in a host of international markets where demand has been strong.
International sales firm Rocket Science has set deals for the film’s release in Italy (Bim), Spain (Vertigo Films), Scandinavia (Nordisk), Benelux (The Searchers), Greece (Odeon), Portugal (Lusomundo), Eastern Europe (M2), Japan (Kino), Latin America (Sun), Israel (Lev Cinema), Airlines (Skeye) and Australia & New Zealand (Madman).
Deals were recently announced for UK (Studio Canal), France (Metropolitan) and Germany, Austria & Switzerland (Dcm). Mongrel is releasing in Canada via a pact sealed by producers.
Some of these deals were set before Cannes while others were inked on the Croisette where the film debuted last month to largely...
- 6/3/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Apprentice,” a scathing portrait of a young Donald Trump, dominated the Cannes Film Festival, scoring with critics, sparking an eight-minute standing ovation and prompting a fiery response from the 45th president’s legal team.
But nearly two weeks after its “bigly” premiere, the film still doesn’t have a U.S. distributor. Despite strong reviews, feverish media attention, a red-hot director in Ali Abbasi and a starry cast that includes Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice” remains up for grabs.
Sources close to the dealmaking say there are several potential buyers in the mix representing both theatrical distributors and streamers, and new offers continue to trickle in. But one of those sources revealed that none of the major studios are bidding, including their specialty labels like the Disney-owned Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics or Focus, which is owned by Universal. Even some of the most daring indie distributors like Neon,...
But nearly two weeks after its “bigly” premiere, the film still doesn’t have a U.S. distributor. Despite strong reviews, feverish media attention, a red-hot director in Ali Abbasi and a starry cast that includes Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice” remains up for grabs.
Sources close to the dealmaking say there are several potential buyers in the mix representing both theatrical distributors and streamers, and new offers continue to trickle in. But one of those sources revealed that none of the major studios are bidding, including their specialty labels like the Disney-owned Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics or Focus, which is owned by Universal. Even some of the most daring indie distributors like Neon,...
- 5/31/2024
- by Tatiana Siegel, Elsa Keslassy and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
For some reason, there has yet to be a mainstream Hollywood feature film about Donald Trump dramatizing any aspect of Trump's life, with an actor portraying him.
There have been countless documentaries about Trump, both for him and against him, and various comedians have portrayed him, including Alec Baldwin and later James Austin Johnson on Saturday Night Live.
The Comey Rule, a 2020 Showtime miniseries based on the memoirs of former FBI director James Comey, starred Brendan Gleeson as the 45th president, opposite Jeff Daniels as Comey.
At the same time, quite a few feature films, like The Oath in 2018 and Irresistible and The Hunt in 2020, have attempted to make dramatic hay out of the political controversies of the Trump years.
However, those who have not featured a Trump-based character have not referenced him directly.
However, what the movies have avoided is a direct dramatization of any part of Trump's life,...
There have been countless documentaries about Trump, both for him and against him, and various comedians have portrayed him, including Alec Baldwin and later James Austin Johnson on Saturday Night Live.
The Comey Rule, a 2020 Showtime miniseries based on the memoirs of former FBI director James Comey, starred Brendan Gleeson as the 45th president, opposite Jeff Daniels as Comey.
At the same time, quite a few feature films, like The Oath in 2018 and Irresistible and The Hunt in 2020, have attempted to make dramatic hay out of the political controversies of the Trump years.
However, those who have not featured a Trump-based character have not referenced him directly.
However, what the movies have avoided is a direct dramatization of any part of Trump's life,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Stephen Silver
- TVfanatic
Donald Trump’s team hits the Cannes biopic “The Apprentice” with Cease & Desist Demand, Here’s why ( Photo Credit – Facebook )
The Grand Theatre Lumiere on Monday premiered The Apprentice, a film chronicling the early years of 45th US President Donald Trump as a real estate developer. Amidst the eight-minute standing ovation that followed the film’s premiere, the producers faced pressure from the political group of the former US President to cease and desist.
“Malicious defamation”, said Trump, while threatening to take legal action.
What is “The Apprentice” about?
The film, which was written and directed by Gabriel Sherman and Ali Abbasi, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump. It depicts Trump’s rise to prominence in the real estate industry, assisted by attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the husband of fashion model Ivana Zelnickova (Marina Bakalova). The movie demonstrates how Trump’s tactics were influenced by Cohn’s ideas, which included “admit nothing,...
The Grand Theatre Lumiere on Monday premiered The Apprentice, a film chronicling the early years of 45th US President Donald Trump as a real estate developer. Amidst the eight-minute standing ovation that followed the film’s premiere, the producers faced pressure from the political group of the former US President to cease and desist.
“Malicious defamation”, said Trump, while threatening to take legal action.
What is “The Apprentice” about?
The film, which was written and directed by Gabriel Sherman and Ali Abbasi, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump. It depicts Trump’s rise to prominence in the real estate industry, assisted by attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the husband of fashion model Ivana Zelnickova (Marina Bakalova). The movie demonstrates how Trump’s tactics were influenced by Cohn’s ideas, which included “admit nothing,...
- 5/27/2024
- by Aastha Soni
- KoiMoi
Donald Trump’s lawyers are attempting to head off a U.S. sale of The Apprentice coming out of Cannes by slapping the filmmakers with a cease and desist letter, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Still, the filmmakers behind the Trump movie look like they will not be swayed from seeking distribution for the movie stateside. “The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide,” a representative for the film’s producers said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.
The legal move by Trump’s legal team follows director Ali Abbasi’s movie receiving a Cannes world premiere, and an eight-minute standing ovation, earlier this week.
Abbasi has already shrugged off a threat from Trump’fs presidential campaign to bring a lawsuit against the project. “Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people...
Still, the filmmakers behind the Trump movie look like they will not be swayed from seeking distribution for the movie stateside. “The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide,” a representative for the film’s producers said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.
The legal move by Trump’s legal team follows director Ali Abbasi’s movie receiving a Cannes world premiere, and an eight-minute standing ovation, earlier this week.
Abbasi has already shrugged off a threat from Trump’fs presidential campaign to bring a lawsuit against the project. “Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people...
- 5/24/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Donald Trump’s campaign said earlier this week they would take legal action against the filmmakers behind Cannes hit The Apprentice, and now the former Celebrity Apprentice host’s team has made their first jab.
As the Ali Abbasi-directed film seeks a distribution deal to get on U.S. screens, lawyers for the former president have sent an adjective filled cease and desist letter to the producers to stop The Apprentice being seen by anyone Stateside.
“The Movie presents itself as a factual biography of Mr. Trump, yet nothing could be further from the truth,” the May 22 letter to Abbasi and screenwriter Gabriel Sherman states.
“It is a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in America’s elections,” the three-page correspondence adds, with a...
As the Ali Abbasi-directed film seeks a distribution deal to get on U.S. screens, lawyers for the former president have sent an adjective filled cease and desist letter to the producers to stop The Apprentice being seen by anyone Stateside.
“The Movie presents itself as a factual biography of Mr. Trump, yet nothing could be further from the truth,” the May 22 letter to Abbasi and screenwriter Gabriel Sherman states.
“It is a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in America’s elections,” the three-page correspondence adds, with a...
- 5/24/2024
- by Dominic Patten and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Attorneys for Donald Trump have sent a cease and desist letter to the filmmakers behind “The Apprentice” in an effort to block its U.S. sale and release. It warns the team behind the film not to pursue a distribution deal, according to two people who have read the letter. “The Apprentice,” which looks at Trump’s early years as a real estate developer and his relationship with Roy Cohn, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this week.
“The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president,” the producers of the film said in a statement regarding the cease-and-desist letter. “We want everyone to see it and then decide.”
The movie, which was independently produced, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn. It presents a damning portrait of the former president as an ethically compromised, philanderer who stiffs contractors and cuts deals with the...
“The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president,” the producers of the film said in a statement regarding the cease-and-desist letter. “We want everyone to see it and then decide.”
The movie, which was independently produced, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn. It presents a damning portrait of the former president as an ethically compromised, philanderer who stiffs contractors and cuts deals with the...
- 5/24/2024
- by Brent Lang and Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Editors note: Running until the final general election results come in, the Deadline ElectionLine podcast spotlights the 2024 campaign and the blurred lines between politics and entertainment in modern America. Hosted by Deadline’s political editor Ted Johnson and executive editor Dominic Patten, the podcast features commentary and interviews with top lawmakers and entertainment figures. At the same time, you can follow all the news in the Biden & Trump rematch and more on the ElectionLine hub on Deadline.
“What surprised me is how good it is,” says Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro of the Cannes-debuting Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. “You know, there are some people that have tried to ding it and say, ‘Oh, it’s an HBO movie,’” Deadline’s editorial director states from the South of France on today’s ElectionLine podcast. “But let me say this: it’s a very good HBO movie.”
“I just think it’s very well crafted.
“What surprised me is how good it is,” says Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro of the Cannes-debuting Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. “You know, there are some people that have tried to ding it and say, ‘Oh, it’s an HBO movie,’” Deadline’s editorial director states from the South of France on today’s ElectionLine podcast. “But let me say this: it’s a very good HBO movie.”
“I just think it’s very well crafted.
- 5/24/2024
- by Dominic Patten and Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
A scene depicting a rape by former President Donald Trump in a biopic, The Apprentice, inspired controversy during its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
In the movie, which premiered at Cannes on Monday night, Ivana Trump (Maria Bakalova) shows a young Trump (Sebastian Stan) a book about the female orgasm. In the scene, the former president tells his late ex-wife he is not attracted to her. He then throws her on the ground and angrily penetrates her as she asks him to stop.
“Is that your G-spot,” he asked her while sexually assaulting her. “Did I find it?” The scene inspired gasps from the audience. Ivana accused Trump of rape in a divorce deposition back in 1990. He denied the allegation, and his wife later said the incident had left her feeling “violated” but not raped “in a literal or criminal sense.”
Trump was accused by 23 women of various acts of sexual misconduct,...
In the movie, which premiered at Cannes on Monday night, Ivana Trump (Maria Bakalova) shows a young Trump (Sebastian Stan) a book about the female orgasm. In the scene, the former president tells his late ex-wife he is not attracted to her. He then throws her on the ground and angrily penetrates her as she asks him to stop.
“Is that your G-spot,” he asked her while sexually assaulting her. “Did I find it?” The scene inspired gasps from the audience. Ivana accused Trump of rape in a divorce deposition back in 1990. He denied the allegation, and his wife later said the incident had left her feeling “violated” but not raped “in a literal or criminal sense.”
Trump was accused by 23 women of various acts of sexual misconduct,...
- 5/23/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Maria Bakalova doesn't consider 'The Apprentice' to be a Donald Trump "biopic".The 27-year-old actress plays the former US president's first wife Ivana Trump in the movie about his business career during the 1970s and 80s and insists that Ali Abbasi's film is about more than just the controversial politician - who is portrayed by Sebastian Stan in the flick.Maria told Deadline's Breaking Baz column at the Cannes Film Festival: "This is not a biopic. I don't see this as a biopic, because not every single detail of Trump's life exists in this movie."And I don't want to say this is a Trump movie. I think this is a bigger movie than just focused on one person that is not completely the same story. And it's inspired by him, but it's not a biopic for me."'The Apprentice' implies that Ivana, who died...
- 5/22/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Trump has spoken out against The Apprentice, but he’s not the first celebrity to attack an unflattering big-screen portrait
More than any film at this year’s Cannes film festival – more than Megalopolis or that film where Demi Moore pushes Margaret Qualley’s face out of her spine – Ali Abbasi’s new film The Apprentice has dominated the news cycle.
This is because The Apprentice is a Donald Trump biopic, and one that has aggressively chosen not to pull a single punch. Played by Sebastian Stan, the Trump of The Apprentice is seen receiving liposuction and hair transplants, and more seriously, raping his wife Ivana. Although reaction has been mixed – Peter Bradshaw called the film “obtuse and irrelevant” in his two-star review this week – it may yet prove to cause damage to Trump’s election chances this year.
More than any film at this year’s Cannes film festival – more than Megalopolis or that film where Demi Moore pushes Margaret Qualley’s face out of her spine – Ali Abbasi’s new film The Apprentice has dominated the news cycle.
This is because The Apprentice is a Donald Trump biopic, and one that has aggressively chosen not to pull a single punch. Played by Sebastian Stan, the Trump of The Apprentice is seen receiving liposuction and hair transplants, and more seriously, raping his wife Ivana. Although reaction has been mixed – Peter Bradshaw called the film “obtuse and irrelevant” in his two-star review this week – it may yet prove to cause damage to Trump’s election chances this year.
- 5/22/2024
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: Dahlings, Oscar-nominated Maria Bakalova is channeling an essence of Ivana Trump, who she praises as a “boss lady,” when we meet on a terrace at the Palais to natter about her slyly sublime portrait of Donald Trump’s first wife in filmmaker Ali Abbasi’s Cannes hit The Apprentice.
Bulgarian-born Bakalova plays Czechoslovakian-American Ivana Trump opposite Romanian-born Sebstian Stan’s astute portrayal of Donald Trump.
They married in 1977 when, perhaps, excess and bad taste weren’t as frowned upon it is today.
Bakalova is wearing a bespoke navy blue short-sleeved jacket with white cuffs that match a white skirt created for her by London-based Han Chong’s Self-Portrait label.
“Yes, it was made as an inspiration for Ivana,” says Bakalova, “because we didn’t want it to be exactly the same, but a nod to Ivana, like a power dressing, power style.”
Ivana Trump at the 1988 Council of Fashion...
Bulgarian-born Bakalova plays Czechoslovakian-American Ivana Trump opposite Romanian-born Sebstian Stan’s astute portrayal of Donald Trump.
They married in 1977 when, perhaps, excess and bad taste weren’t as frowned upon it is today.
Bakalova is wearing a bespoke navy blue short-sleeved jacket with white cuffs that match a white skirt created for her by London-based Han Chong’s Self-Portrait label.
“Yes, it was made as an inspiration for Ivana,” says Bakalova, “because we didn’t want it to be exactly the same, but a nod to Ivana, like a power dressing, power style.”
Ivana Trump at the 1988 Council of Fashion...
- 5/21/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
So this is what economizing looks like in Cannes.
The rosé still flowed, though not as freely, and it was easier to get a reservation at the Michelin-starred restaurants that are usually booked months in advance of the film festival. There were still rooms to be had at the Hôtel du Cap, the posh resort where studio chiefs and movie stars typically stay. Most troubling, the deals — both for completed films that premiered in Cannes and the packages that hit the Côte d’Azur searching for financing — are taking much longer to close.
Even in the shimmering south of France there’s no escaping that the movie business, having endured Covid shutdowns and two devastating labor strikes, has lost much of its luster. Donna Langley, the chairman of NBCUniversal Studio Group, was blunt during a talk, noting that the domestic box office is down 20% and the global box office has...
The rosé still flowed, though not as freely, and it was easier to get a reservation at the Michelin-starred restaurants that are usually booked months in advance of the film festival. There were still rooms to be had at the Hôtel du Cap, the posh resort where studio chiefs and movie stars typically stay. Most troubling, the deals — both for completed films that premiered in Cannes and the packages that hit the Côte d’Azur searching for financing — are taking much longer to close.
Even in the shimmering south of France there’s no escaping that the movie business, having endured Covid shutdowns and two devastating labor strikes, has lost much of its luster. Donna Langley, the chairman of NBCUniversal Studio Group, was blunt during a talk, noting that the domestic box office is down 20% and the global box office has...
- 5/21/2024
- by Brent Lang and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Ali Abbasi’s film The Apprentice premiered at Cannes Film Festival on Monday evening and no sooner than the run time could reach its conclusion was the Trump Campaign already threatening to file a lawsuit. In response, Abbasi is extending the offer for Donald Trump to see the film for himself and draw his own conclusions, confident that the ex-president would be “surprised.”
“I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi shared in response to the threat of legal action, according to Variety. “I...
“I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike,” Abbasi shared in response to the threat of legal action, according to Variety. “I...
- 5/21/2024
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is threatening legal action against The Apprentice, a new film from director Ali Abbasi charting Trump’s early years and his relationship with mentor Roy Cohn.
Update — May 24th: Trump’s attorneys have formally sent a cease and desist letter to the team behind the film in an attempt to block its release in the US, reports Variety.
The film, which stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn, and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, debuted this week at the Cannes Film Festival. According to Variety, there are several scenes which paint Trump in a particularly unflattering light, including an instance in which he throws his then-wife Ivana to the ground and sexually assaults her. (Ivana described such an assault in a 1990 sworn deposition related to the couple’s divorce.)
Elsewhere in The Apprentice, Trump is depicted using amphetamine pills and getting liposuction and a hair transplant.
Update — May 24th: Trump’s attorneys have formally sent a cease and desist letter to the team behind the film in an attempt to block its release in the US, reports Variety.
The film, which stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn, and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, debuted this week at the Cannes Film Festival. According to Variety, there are several scenes which paint Trump in a particularly unflattering light, including an instance in which he throws his then-wife Ivana to the ground and sexually assaults her. (Ivana described such an assault in a 1990 sworn deposition related to the couple’s divorce.)
Elsewhere in The Apprentice, Trump is depicted using amphetamine pills and getting liposuction and a hair transplant.
- 5/21/2024
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Film News
Every superhero gets an origin story. So, for that matter, do most supervillains. The Apprentice drops viewers into New York circa 1973, when a 34-year-old resident of Queens walked in to the upper-crust establishment on the Upper West Side known as Le Club. He went there in an attempt to impress a young woman. He’d leave having met a well-known lawyer and well-connected member of New York’s elite, who would end up changing his life. The legal eagle was the notorious Roy Cohn. The outer-borough wannabe was Donald Trump.
- 5/21/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
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