The Apprentice: Trump's early life sparks Hollywood backlash
The mundane rape scene, a brother struggling with addiction, or a vague relationship with another millionaire—"The Apprentice," about the early life of Donald Trump, has become one of the most controversial premieres of the year. American networks are blocking the film's advertisements.
5:56 PM EDT, October 2, 2024
Soon, the film "The Apprentice," starring Sebastian Stan, will hit the cinemas. The actor plays a young Donald Trump, who begins climbing the ladder of New York's financial world thanks to an influential businessman. "The Apprentice" has been surrounded by controversy from the beginning. After its initial screenings in Cannes, the creators struggled to find a distributor, partly due to threats of lawsuits from Donald Trump's lawyers.
Film about Donald Trump being blocked
In a statement sent to journalists, a Trump campaign spokesman called the film "pure malicious defamation," asserting it "should never see the light of day, nor does it even deserve to be on the discount DVD shelf in a store that's about to close down." They went on to say that the film is only fit to be burned in a trash can. However, it ended only with threats.
Promoting "The Apprentice" has proven difficult in the United States. According to "Deadline," ABC and CBS did not agree to air the film's advertisements during debates and news programs. Tom Ortenberg of Briarcliff Entertainment commented: "The timidity and cowardice of those in the corridors of power in Hollywood never ceases to amaze. Despite all the obstacles thrown in our way, we are thrilled to be able to bring The Apprentice to theatres –and only theatres– next Friday, Oct. 11."
The networks' decision stems from ethical concerns about promoting a film about a presidential candidate within the context of news coverage. CBS expressed willingness to air spots at other times of the day but not during news programs. ABC took similar steps during the last presidential debate.
In the film "The Apprentice," Sebastian Stan plays young Trump, and Jeremy Strong plays his mentor, lawyer Roy Cohn. Maria Bakalova stars as Ivana Trump. The news networks' doubts seem justified. The production showcases the controversial behind-the-scenes formation of Trump's multimillion-dollar businesses, which may influence the ongoing presidential campaign.
