Abbasi invites Trump to dialogue amid film controversy
Ali Abbasi, the director of the controversial film "The Chosen One," responds to the latest attacks from Donald Trump, who harshly criticized the film on social media. Despite legal threats from the former president, Abbasi invites him to further dialogue.
1:42 PM EDT, October 15, 2024
Ali Abbasi, the director of "The Chosen One," has suggested a conversation with Donald Trump following another wave of criticism towards his production. In response to the latest insults from the former president, Abbasi jokingly tweeted: "Thanks for the feedback, Donald. I'm open to a conversation if you're willing. I have a busy day today with many press interviews, but maybe I can schedule a call tomorrow." Trump, who sharply criticized the film on the Truth Social platform, described it as "cheaply made, defamatory, and a politically motivated low blow".
The film "The Chosen One," in which Sebastian Stan plays Trump, portrays the former president during the 70s and 80s when he was heavily influenced by his lawyer, Roy Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong). The narrative also references his marriage to Ivana Trump (Maria Bakalova) and his relationship with his father, Fred Trump Sr. (Martin Donovan), which drew additional disapproval from the former president. Particularly infuriating was a fictional scene of sexual assault on Ivana.
Trump called the film "a tasteless fraud" and accused its creators, including writer Gabe Sherman, of spreading false information. "My ex-wife, Ivana, had a wonderful heart, and our relationship was cordial until her death," Trump wrote in response to the film's storyline. He further labeled Sherman a "talentless hack" and claimed that Hollywood is trying to influence the outcome of the upcoming 2024 presidential elections.
"The Chosen One" premiered at Cannes in May 2024 but hit theaters on October 11. The production is generating significant interest, especially due to its political context and the forthcoming elections. According to IndieWire, Abbasi doesn't expect Trump to love the film but would like his full opinion. "Do I think he will like the film? Probably not. Do I think he will hate it? I'm not sure. However, I'd like to know what he thinks, even if he criticizes me heavily," said the director.
Similar to Trump, his campaign team also reacted to the film. Steven Cheung, Trump's campaign chief spokesperson, called the production a "trash bin" and complete fiction that "spreads long-debunked lies."
The director of "The Chosen One" delights in Trump's criticism
Ali Abbasi admits that the former U.S. president's negative opinion is contributing to greater interest in the production. In a conversation with TMZ, the director confirmed that every mention of the film by Trump only increases the number of viewers who want to see the controversial title.
During the interview, Abbasi also added that he is ready to organize a special screening of the film for Donald Trump and his family, should the former president wish to attend. "I think he's curious too. It could be fun for both of us. Why wouldn’t he sit down and watch it with me?" said the director, maintaining his optimism, though it's doubtful Trump will accept the proposal.
Despite the controversy surrounding "The Chosen One," it has so far only garnered $1.6 million in U.S. box offices in the first weekend after its premiere, ranking it 10th among new titles.
