The much-anticipated biopic The Apprentice dropped its first trailer on Tuesday, giving us a glimpse into the mentorship that shaped Donald Trump. Directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman, the film stars Sebastian Stan as a young Trump, with Jeremy Strong playing his infamous mentor, Roy Cohn.
Set in the 1970s, the trailer opens with Trump meeting Cohn, where Trump exclaims, “The Roy Cohn? You’re brutal.” To which Cohn replies, “Guilty as charged.” From there, the trailer delves into Cohn’s ruthless philosophy of winning, laying out a strategy of relentless attacks, denial, and refusal to accept defeat. Cohn’s mantra of “Attack, admit nothing, deny everything” echoes throughout the scenes, showing Trump’s rise in New York’s elite circles.
The trailer showcases Trump’s life in the fast lane, from attending glamorous parties with Maria Bakalova’s Ivana Trump to hyping up his real estate ventures. It balances moments of humor and tension, like when Cohn disapproves of Trump’s casual attitude at a business meeting or when Ivana quips, “Your face looks like an orange.”
Speaking about his upcoming release, director Ali Abbasi reveals, “This is not a History Channel episode.” Further talking about this non-conventional film he adds, “This is not a biopic of Donald Trump. We’re not interested in every detail of his life going from A to Z. We’re interested in telling a very specific story through his relationship with Roy and Roy’s relationship with him.”
Premiering at Cannes in May, The Apprentice was later picked up by Briarcliff Entertainment for an October 11 release. The film has sparked controversy, with Trump’s camp issuing legal threats over its distribution. However, it is set to be a major player this awards season.
Published - September 11, 2024 12:51 pm IST
