Trump campaign warns of potential lawsuit against ‘The Apprentice’ film, director remains unfazed – National

The 2024 Cannes Film Festival has stirred controversy with the premiere of “The Apprentice,” a movie that fictionalizes former U.S. President Donald Trump’s real estate career. The film includes a scene depicting Trump, played by Sebastian Stan, raping his first wife Ivana, played by Maria Bakalova, in reference to a 1989 incident from their real-life divorce trial.

The Trump campaign has vehemently criticized the film, with chief spokesperson Steven Cheung calling it “pure malicious defamation” and announcing plans to file a lawsuit against the filmmakers. Cheung accused Hollywood elites of election interference and claimed that the movie should not even be released, suggesting it belongs in a dumpster fire.

Director Ali Abbasi, however, remains unfazed by the legal threats, stating that he offered to screen the movie for Trump and engage in a discussion with his campaign. Abbasi expressed uncertainty about Trump’s reaction to the film but hinted that he might be surprised.

Despite the backlash, “The Apprentice” received an eight-minute standing ovation at its Cannes premiere. The film also delves into other unflattering aspects of Trump’s life, including scenes of liposuction, hair loss surgery, and a diet pill addiction. One of the film’s investors, Dan Snyder, has also threatened legal action, demanding a re-cut of the movie to portray Trump in a more positive light.

While the release date for “The Apprentice” remains uncertain, Abbasi humorously suggested tying it to the U.S. Election for promotional purposes. The film stars Jeremy Strong as Trump’s lawyer and fixer Roy Cohn, and has sparked intense debate and criticism for its controversial portrayal of the former president.