Donald Trump’s team has threatened to sue over a biopic about his early years that includes rape, erectile dysfunction and ruthless betrayal, but the makers said on Tuesday the film allowed viewers to feel “sympathy” with the ex-president.
“The Apprentice”, which premiered Monday at the Cannes Film Festival, traces Trump’s origins as an ambitious young property developer in 1970s and 1980s New York.
Sebastian Stan, best known from Marvel superhero films, stars as Trump, while Jeremy Strong of “Succession” fame plays his ruthless mentor and attorney Roy Cohn.
The film offers a nuanced account of Trump, depicted as an ambitious but naive social climber in the first half, before his decency is eroded as he learns the dark arts of dealmaking and power.
“Donald’s team should wait to watch the movie before they start suing us,” director Ali Abbasi told reporters in Cannes.
“I don’t necessarily think this is a movie that he would dislike… I think he would be surprised,” Abbasi said.
But Trump’s campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, said a lawsuit would be filed “to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers”.
“This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalises lies that have been long debunked,” added Cheung in a statement.
The most controversial scene is that of Trump raping his first wife, Ivana, after she belittles him for growing fat and bald.
In real life, Ivana accused Trump of raping her during divorce proceedings but later rescinded the allegation. She died in 2022.
