Summary
- Donald Trump’s attorneys issue cease-and-desist letter, claim
The Apprentice
biopic is “concoction of lies” defaming him. - Producers defend movie as “fair and balanced,” urge critics to watch before judging.
-
The Apprentice
receives positive reviews at Cannes, highlighting strong performances from the cast.
Attorneys representing former President of the United States, Donald Trump, have issued a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers behind the upcoming biopic The Apprentice starring Sebastian Stan. As revealed by Deadline, the letter states that the movie is “a concoction of lies,” with Trump’s representatives now fighting to block the sale and release of The Apprentice in the U.S.
“The movie presents itself as a factual biography of Mr. Trump, yet nothing could be further from the truth.
It is a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in America’s elections,” the letter reportedly says. “If you do not immediately cease and desist all distribution and marketing of this libelous farce, we will be forced to pursue all appropriate legal remedies.”
Directed by Ali Abbasi, written by Gabriel Sherman, and starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump alongside Succession star Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, The Apprentice explores the early career of Trump and focuses on his relationship with Roy Cohn, a New York City prosecutor. You can check out the official synopsis for The Apprentice below:
“A story about the origins of a system… featuring larger-than-life characters and set in a world of power and ambition, the film delves into a profound exploration of the ascent of an American dynasty. It meticulously charts the genesis of a “zero-sum” culture, one that accentuates the dichotomy between winners and losers, the dynamics between the mighty and the vulnerable, and the intricate psychology of persona.”
The Apprentice Producers Have Responded; Call the Movie ‘Fair & Balanced’
The producers behind The Apprentice have since responded to the cease-and-desist letter from Trump’s lawyers, advising them to see the movie before they make up their minds about its depiction of the former POTUS.
“The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide.”
Sebastian Stan’s Donald Trump Movie Criticized by Billionaire Investor Who Thought It Would Be Pro-Trump
The Donald Trump biopic has been the target of a lawsuit from one of its investors, who isn’t happy about the film’s portrayal of the former POTUS.
Director Ali Abbasi has previously echoed these sentiments when responding to criticism from Trump’s team saying, “Donald’s team should wait (until) they watch the movie before they start suing us.”
“I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie that he would dislike. I don’t necessarily think he would like it. I think he would be surprised. … I would offer to go and meet him wherever he wants and talk about the context of the movie, have a screening and have a chat afterwards.”
The Apprentice had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival earlier this month and has been met with largely positive reviews from critics. The movie currently stands at a respectable 78% on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with Screen Rant’s Brittany Witherspoon praising the central performances from Stan and Strong.
“While the film is exactly what you’d expect, it comes with stunning performances and an exciting script that enchants you with its drama.”
Applause for Stan’s performance is present throughout many of the early reviews, with The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney praising the Marvel star for going “beyond impersonation” when bringing a young Trump to life on screen.
“Some will argue that Stan’s performance in the central role is a touch too likeable, but the actor does an excellent job, going beyond impersonation to capture the essence of the man.”
The Apprentice
is now awaiting a U.S. distributor, StudioCanal has acquired UK and Irish distribution rights.
